Dreams

I am a dreamer.  Not a daytime dreamer, although occasionally I do that also, but I’m a consistent night dreamer.  I think that everybody dreams, although most may not remember theirs, I wake up each morning with a story from the night before.  

Sometimes the dream is just a crazy mishmash of scenarios, but most times, it is about something or someone that will stay with me for days, weeks, or in some cases, forever.

According to Psychology Today, why humans dream remains one of behavioral science’s unanswered questions.  In my dreams, I will revisit places I have lived, remembering rooms and furniture placement.  I dream a lot about people who have passed on, and I have some of the same dreams repeatedly.  I renovate houses in my sleep and sometimes come up with great ideas I will eventually do when I’m awake.  I even solve work problems in my sleep.  

I had my first nightmare when I was 6.  At that age, I had not been exposed to TV violence, but my dream was about someone who had been violently killed in our house.  I could see and smell the blood smeared on the walls and feel the terror and fright in my heart.  When I awoke, I was so scared that I buried myself under the bed covers.  I thought I would suffocate before morning came.  That was 67 years ago, and I can still see myself in the bedroom and feel the emotion of that dream.

For many years, I dreamed someone was standing beside my bed.  All I could see was their shoes.  I would wake myself up by trying to scream because I was so scared.  I tell myself now that it’s not someone trying to hurt me but someone looking over me to ensure I am safe thru the night. 

I’ve had disturbing dreams of future events, so I don’t believe that all dreams are a recapitulation of past events.

Sometimes I didn’t want to sleep because I never knew what the night would bring, but it’s become my form of adventure as I’ve gotten older.  I never know who will turn up in my sleep or where I will be in it.  All I know is that it could be ridiculous, sad, or ho-hum, but I can guarantee that it will be something each night. 

When you turn out the light tonight, I wish you all sweet dreams!