Do I Really Have Psychic Gifts?

When I was a child I regularly had occurrences that I felt indicated I had a psychic ability. These things happened so much so that my father and mother were convinced I had a gift, to the point that my father had designed a word with my grandfather on his deathbead that I would say at some point in my life to confirm life after death. Thus far this had not happened and I find it very frustrating. Following are some examples of what I have experienced over the years, primarily as a child and a young girl.

We were driving home on a winter day from a family member's house (prior to the seatbelt law) and as we drove I became increasingly agitated with the feeling that we were going to have an accident. As the feeling grew, I decided I was going to fasten my seatbelt, something we never wore. Within minutes of having done so we were hit by a drunken driver who had run the stop sign. I was the only one who had buckled up and therefore suffered no injuries as a result.

Another experience I had involved my best friend. I experienced a dream that had numerous symbols in it and for some reason the symbols signified the death of my best friend. When I awoke, I was certain that she had died, so certain that when I was sitting outside talking with my grandmother that morning she brought up the fact that she had read in the paper that morning about a friend of mine who had died. I instantly blurted out the name of my friend and repeatedly said that I knew it was her. She couldn't recall the name of the person, but told me to wait while she looked it up. When she came to it, she confirmed that what I had said was right.

Another time and another close friend later, it was prom night and we were driving past the scene of a very significant accident. As we were passing it I knew unquestioningly that it was one of my friends (the vehicle was not one that I recognized) who I regularly walked to school with that was in the vehicle and that she had died. I verbalized this to the friends I was with and was so upset they could hardly calm me down. I had to stifle my upset because I think I was really starting to frighten them, that and I think they thought I was a little nuts.

I've had other instances much less significant, such as dreaming of individuals who I hadn't seen in years, only to see the following day or within the week.

I've also had experiences of seeing spirits both in full static form or just as shadows out of the corners of my eyes.

I am also rather successful in predicting the sex of a child prior to its birth. I know this seems kind of cheesy, but it always amazes me at how accurate I always am.

I have also always been exceptionally intuitive when it comes to people and what they are thinking and feeling and just in judging them. My husband now is well aware that I have some unique occurrances and he will tease me that I need to come up with the lottery numbers. Of course I don't think this is how it works.

One of the more recent things I started to experience (though very infrequently) are visions of things about to happen while I am awake. One of these instances occurred while my husband and I were driving and he was smoking a cigarette. A vision flashed in my mind of the cigarette being flung out the window only to land in the back seat. When he finally did fling his cigarette out, it did indeed end up in the back seat just as I had envisioned.

So given all of this and so many other things I have had happen over the years, I guess my question is, is it really a gift or mere coincidence, and if it is, why does it seem to be fading as I get older? I would really like to tap into it more if this truly is psychic ability, but yet, I am frightened at the same time of what I might see or feel or know.