Recently, my friend Suz, over at BusyBeeSuz, told about a vivid dream she had. I commented that my dreams are usually concrete and I can almost always decipher each component. Here's a dream I had last night and why I believe each detail was part of the dream:
My husband and I were dressed up and going downtown to Playhouse Square (the theatre district) to see a Broadway show. (A week ago, we had talked about going downtown more often) It was a theatre I wasn't familiar with, and he had the tickets on his phone. (He always has the tickets on his phone) There were multiple stairs and levels that we had to walk up and down, and at each level, there was a checkpoint where he had to scan his phone to allow us to keep going. I was having trouble keeping up with him and was falling behind. (This is often the case when we are walking, even though I'm a fast walker; he's just faster than me)
At some point, I completely lose him. (This happens virtually every time we are at Home Depot or any large box store) I decide to just stand there in the crowd of people until he finds me. I have my back up against a railing, but I turn around and see that I'm high up, which causes me to panic. (I have acrophobia) I see two long, empty benches shaped like an L at the level below me, so I carefully walk down the stairs in my heels. (Since I was diagnosed with osteoporosis last year, I have an irrational fear of falling) By the time I get down there, the only seat left is at the corner of the L where the two benches meet.
I sit down and get out my phone, but my apps are all messed up and the fonts are all in red. (Technology often annoys me and yesterday, the latest iOS software update wouldn't download on my phone) Meanwhile, an older lady seated next to me keeps nosily looking over my shoulder at my phone. (On Sunday at the grocery store, an older woman next in line was all up in my business while I was using the credit card reader) I turned my phone away from the woman and she proceeded to hand me a cheap Xerox copy of a brochure about Cerebral Palsy. It was about how people with CP do not want to be cured. (As my Middle Child is part of the Autism community, I'm often aware of the same feelings of those on the spectrum) I'm becoming more agitated, wondering why my husband is not looking for me or why he hasn't texted me. (LOL, story of my life!) I decide to text my oldest daughter to gripe. (We are each other's Complaint Department) That's when I wake up. The good news is, I realize I've slept a good 8.5 hours, give or take some time spent using the bathroom and going back to sleep. That is tremendous for me!
WOW, the detail in your dream (and the fact that you remembered them) is awesome! I took a dream interpretation class back in the early 90's which taught that dreams can only truly be interpreted by the dreamer because our own subconscious uses symbols that only we can understand.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time in my life when I dreamed ALL the time and remembered every detail. In fact, I used to keep a dream journal and write them out as soon as I woke up in the morning, or even in the middle of the night. After writing them out, everything became so clear to me about what the dream meant.
However, I don't dream much at all. They say we dream every night, but that we don't always remember them, so that must be me. And when I do remember them, they seem to be very short (snippets) of dreams.
I posted something on my blog a year ago in which I shared about recurring dreams I've had -- of being in an elevator and it keeps going up and down real fast; another being that I'm trying to call someone on the phone and I keep getting disconnected; another where my teeth are loose or are falling out; another where I dream of water leaks in my apartment and they actually happen!
Fun and interesting post, my friend! Have a terrific Tuesday! X
I remember your dream post and I think you mentioned it recently because of the water leak. I’ve had phone dreams a number of times, where I can’t use my cellphone for some unknown reason. Frustrating! Of course, my most recurring dream is having to go to the bathroom and not finding one or not having privacy. But then, I always have to go to the bathroom, so it’s a realistic dream! I wonder why you don’t remember your dreams anymore? Thanks for stopping by on a Tuesday. XO
DeleteI often have vivid dreams, but they never have any basis in real life and are just what you might call abstract - usually scary dreams about being chased by someone or getting lost or missing a train (for example). It's rare that I dream of a person or place I actually know. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteThat’s interesting that you don’t usually know the people in your dreams. I’m the opposite. It’s so interesting how the mind works, inventing people and places for you. I’ve had dreams about people I haven’t thought of in years. Fascinating that the brain will pull that out in a dream.
DeleteThere was a time many years ago that I was more stressed than usual and I frequently had dreams my teeth were falling out. I've read that supposedly represents feeling a loss of control in your life.
ReplyDeleteOver the last few years, I don't typically remember dreams anymore. Maybe where I was and/or the feeling I had in the dream but that is about it.
The details you were able to pick up from your dream is pretty remarkable.
I think I’ve read that the teeth falling out is the most common dream! I was shocked because I’ve never had that one. I think runner up was a snake dream, which would truly creep me out. I think the scariest one I’ve had in recent years was being trapped in the back of a car at a gas station by kidnappers. My father-in-law had just passed away, so I attributed it to the death watch we had recently been through.
DeleteI too have vivid dreams and often, like you, can pinpoint where a piece of the dream came from in real life. Most of my dreams are of traveling! Car, train, plane, hiking, boating, often with a need to get somewhere and I'm running late (also something I do regularly)
ReplyDeleteThose sound like fun dreams, except for the running late part. It sounds like we dream in a similar fashion. Did you stop allowing comments on your blog? I do not see a way to comment.
DeleteOK, this will give you the measure of just how much of a nerd I am. When I was in high school/college, it was not uncommon (maybe not once a month, but every other, maybe), if I'd been working on some particularly challenging problem, especially if I was stuck and just couldn't see how to solve it, for me to dream the answer. Of course, at the end of the dream, I'd have to prompt myself to wake up and write it down. . .
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a small child (maybe up to 8 or 9 years old), I would have a recurring dream in which my head and shoulders were being squeezed, relentlessly. The pressure would keep increasing until I wondered how much of it I could stand. It was not an unpleasant dream; in fact, when it would recur, I had a sense of 'oh good, it's this one again'. I could never figure out what it was about, but when I was grown and married and having kids (maybe it was around the time I met my birth-mother?), it occurred to me that I was dreaming about my own birth. Isn't that weird?
How fascinating that you were able to come up with answers in your dreams. AND that you were able to wake yourself up! It is bizarre to have dreams about your own birth, though I've heard of that before. Your description reminded me of Temple Grandin's cattle squeeze chutes, if you are familiar with her, because she was able to find a way to calm the cattle.
DeleteI rarely remember my dreams and if I do it's may be one word or scene-- and that's it. My dream journal, if I had one, would be rather enigmatic.
ReplyDeleteI certainly don't have vivid dreams every night. Maybe once a month will I have one that is a story like last night's.
DeleteFirst, I remember Playhouse Square, or the mention of it triggered a memory of Ohio for me. So it was great to hear its name mentioned again in your post.
ReplyDeleteSecond, you dream vividly and can reason out what each part of the dream means, which is incredible
So, after reading Ron's comment, I realized that, like Ron, I usually have snippet dreams, but recently, I've been having more vivid dreams and remembering them later in the day, which is strange.
It's strange how most of us don't think twice about how every 24 hours, we lie down and meditate silently for 5-10 hours. It's a little creepy when I think about it. 😂
Playhouse Square is grand! It's the second largest performing arts district outside of NYC. Most people do not realize that. My kids all had their high school graduation in the State Theater, which is gorgeous.
DeleteMost of my dreams are not vivid like this one and I would definitely describe my memory of them as snippets. Hahaha, yes on the silent meditation. Except for the snoring!
This is so cool. I'm SO impressed that you can attach so many parts of your dream to your daily life. I had some giggles reading about your adventure....funny for me, but also stressful for you.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I can attach reasons for a dream, but other times: NOPE.
Like the other night, some little kid asked me to play The REO Speedwagon channel on Pandora, I put it on, but we were disappointed that they didn't play any REO Speedwagon on that channel. Like, WTH? I don't know who the kid was and I don't generally listen to REO. Weird.
Thanks for sharing! You certainly should have a dream journal.
My everyday life can be absurd, so why shouldn't my dreams be? I'm CRACKING UP at your dream!!!! How random is that? What little kid has heard of REO Speedwagon? Personally, I despised the band and called them REO Spudwagon. I would have refused the kid's request!
DeleteThat's interesting how you can figure out what the connections were in some dreams. Ron dreams frequently and his are fairly bizarre. Many nights he has a drink before bed though, so it could be the whiskey. ha! Don't think I get a deep enough sleep some nights with all my tossing and turning to have detailed ones all the time. I did have a couple with someone in my family recently who I haven't seen in a long time, and then my husband ran into her unexpectedly. Weirdly, I still remember part of one I had in grade school. My most annoying dreams have something to do with ... can't find my way somewhere, lost in a city, can't get home, walking around and around... I go into a bathroom but there's always something wrong... the toilets are full, or they are really dirty, or backing up, there's some reason why I can't just sit down. And then I wake up, having to go to the bathroom. So maybe if in my dream I actually did go... then maybe I'd pee my bed!?? LOL
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of trouble sleeping, too. I’m fine between 10-2, but then I have trouble going back to sleep. That’s freaky about dreaming of someone you haven’t seen and then Ron ran into the person! I have the bathroom dreams all the time! Same as you, being dirty, no doors or other privacy issues. And yes, I always have to go when I awaken!
DeleteI have very vivid dreams and they always seem to be connected to my real life. I had one recently starring my sisters, but for the life of me I can't remember it now. I often wake up and tell my kids what I've dreamt of and we have a good laugh. I don't always remember my dreams, but when I do it is a wild ride. Oh, I did have a dream not too long ago that one of the kids I babysit for drowned. In real life that would be HORRID - obviously, but somehow in the dream world it was less stressful and was easy to shrug off. Like, it wasn't a life ending ordeal, or something. I used to work for a baseball hat manufacturer, and I had a TON of dreams about customers who were upset if we couldn't get their custom hats ready on time.
ReplyDeleteI do not keep a dream journal. It's funny that I feel like, OH, I'LL REMEMBER THAT ONE . . . but then the memory often fades during the day.
Your dream sounds stressful, but also so realistic. Yikes.
It sounds like you dream similarly to me, in that it’s related to your real life. The customer one is funny because . . . well, customers! It is very hard to remember dreams unless you write them down. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI have vivid dreams All the time. Mostly nightmares for some reason. The beta blockers I take also give me weird dreams.
ReplyDeleteOh, that’s weird that the beta blockers affect you like that. Sorry about the nightmares!
DeleteWow, that is a very vivid dream! I never remember my dreams but I do have quite strange and vivid ones - but then I forget them shortly after waking up.
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard to remember them unless you write them down. I wrote this post about two hours after waking up.
DeleteThat definitely falls under the vivid definition. Since I quit drinking a few months ago, I have been having some pretty awesome and vivid dreams. The ones that stick out are hanging out with my mom, who passed away in 2008, and doing stuff like trying to break up a bank robbery. No idea what it means but it is just nice seeing her again.
ReplyDeleteThose sound like good dreams. I’m glad you are seeing your mom in your dreams and way to go on the crime prevention!
DeleteOmg. This post... It's one of my faves. Dreams have always been a thing in my family. A lot of us but not all of us, have dreams about people and places we've never met or been to, yet and and what's interesting is that all of us, even generations back all started having dreams like these when each of us was 5 yrs. old. Now there's a thing, huh? - I keep a dream journal but only for what I feel are important dreams and I dream often. My little sis can break her dreams down to every day happenings like this one of yours. Do your remember the blog, "If We Were Having Coffee?" Well, if you and I were having coffee, we could have some great conversations about dreams. - Do you dream in color? I always dream in color.
ReplyDeleteI do not remember that blog, but I'd totally be down for coffee with you. My BFF from high school lives in your city. If I ever make it out there, I'm looking you up! And yes, I only dream in color. It's like real life.
DeleteThat was a great blog. I see posts from time to time but haven't been able to follow them back to the main blog. I should do one, "if We Were Having Wine." Lol. - Absolutely look me up! That would be the coolest!
DeleteFor sure!
DeleteWhat a dream that was Bijoux, and such a recollection as well. I do remember some of my fdreams, which seem so vivid while they are happening, but then on ewaking up, I can't recall many of the details, just snatches here and there. My husband tells me he remembers many of his dreams, but he rarely shares all the details.
ReplyDeleteI woke up and remembered it all, so went over it in my mind before hitting the keyboard. If I hadn’t, I’m sure I wouldn’t have remembered half of it.
DeleteI used to dream all of the time, but lately I can't remember any or if I even am having any dreams. I'm just so exhausted, I think I just shut down entirely once I hit the bed now. I did used to have the teeth falling out dream a lot. I thought maybe I grind my teeth in my sleep and that could have been causing those dreams. IDK. I did have a dream in high school that my dad was standing on a cliff telling me goodbye. Not that he was going to take his life, but it was an ominous dream and very scary for me. People told me I was crazy for making a big deal out of it at the time, but a few months later he was diagnosed with lung cancer that eventually did take his life.
ReplyDeleteI did have another dream about 5 years ago. My youngest daughter died in my dream and I remember waking up with paralyzing sadness, unable to move or function for about 10 minutes until I was able to process that it wasn't real, just a dream. I guess if I'm to decipher my dreams, I'd say my biggest fear would be loss of loved ones.
Theresa, those are some awful dreams! And it’s spooky about your dad being diagnosed after your dream. The teeth falling out is supposedly the most common dream. I think they say it’s about a fear of loss of control. I agree with you that the fear of losing loved ones is probably a trigger for your dreams. I hope your sleep is peaceful without dreams.
DeleteI often can relate my dreams to something that happened recently or something that is coming up! I remember a few days before my daughter's wedding dreaming that I couldn't find the top to my dress and had to go to the wedding in my bra! Also, when I quit smoking I used to dream I was smoking and be totally confused when I woke up trying to remember if I smoked or not! Good for you sleeping 8.5 hours! I can't remember the last time I did!
ReplyDeleteThat is crazy about your wedding dream. I can totally see being confused whether you smoked or not after a smoking dream! That 8.5 hours was a miracle! My usual is 5-6 hours.
DeleteThat's impressive that you remember so much about your dreams! I almost never remember my dreams unless they're bad and/or related to something I'm very stressed out about.
ReplyDeleteI probably just woke up at the right time to remember it.
DeleteWow, Bijoux, that's quite a dream!
ReplyDeleteI like how you pinpointed the various real-life connections to the anxious moments that occur in the dream. (fear of falling, losing sight of your husband in the Home Depot, etc.)
I like to say that dreams are the funhouse mirror reflections of our thoughts and fears. And I've had some real four-alarm freak shows happen in my REM moments.
I've blogged about a few of them and just had one last week that had me facing some serious misery in London. (?!) I may write about that one yet...
Take care and pleasant dreams!
Misery in London sounds like a made for TV movie. I hope you share it! Thanks so much for stopping by.
DeleteI have crazy vivid dreams all the time. I just assumed everybody did, but only recently learned that Tara rarely dreams at all. Weird how people can be so different!
ReplyDeleteI do find that my dreams tend to be associated with that day's, or a previous day's, events. Just in a bizarre and twisted way most times.
Another person whose dreams make sense, in a weird way!
DeleteI’m in Brunswick. Are you near there? Have any time Thursday? -Betsy
ReplyDeleteI emailed you!
DeleteHaahaa that's a good one. I do dream vividly every night, and if I wake up during the night I will think about everything I was "doing" ... but it's rare for me to remember much about it the next day! My TG says he never dreams. I can't imagine that. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI think people who say they don’t dream just don’t remember or maybe they aren’t in the REM sleep for long enough?
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