Dreaming my dreams

This subject is taken from the title of the Waylon Jennings classic song, “Dreaming My Dreams With You.” That was always one of my favorite tunes by Waylon. His soulful lyrics just seemed perfect. It also reminds me of the dreams we all have, and their mysterious effects they have on us.

A few years ago, I wrote a column about dreams, or at least I think I did. I’m beginning to wonder if I dreamed it as I have not been able to locate it. I went through my entire collection of past columns (20 years worth) and it is not to be found. If I did dream that I wrote about dreams then it must have been a doozy!

I researched a few details online regarding dreams. I won’t bore you with all the facts, but here are just a few

• Everyone dreams.

• Most dreams occur during the REM (rapid eye movement stage of sleep).

• Remembering dreams is not the same for everyone.

• Throughout history, interoperation of dreams has been attempted by many.

I am one of those unfortunate individuals who rarely remember their dreams. I know I dream each night but their content does not often appear to me once I am awake. Conversely, I have visited with several family and friends who remember their dreams vividly.

Some of them dream in color. I cannot say with any degree of certainty if that is the case for me. In the few dreams I do have some recollections for, I don’t remember if they’re in color or not.

Some of those interviewed told me they have extreme content in their dreams. These include romance, sex and even perilous danger. Some people fear if they dream their own death it will cause their actual demise.

On a few occasions such as one recent night (I actually think it was probably near my normal waking period but can’t be certain of that), I had a very exciting dream. Again I am uncertain as to the exact content but it was a dream that I found compelling. So much so I did not want it to end. I felt I was about to awaken and I recall pleading within that dream state to remain asleep so I could finish the saga.

I have had one recurring dream that I hesitate to relate to you, as it is embarrassingly ridiculous to most people. On several occasions during my life I have had the same dream that I can fly. Yes, I said fly. I am able to hover over familiar neighborhoods in town and several rural areas in the county. It is as if I am using Google Earth. Please don’t call the authorities to tell them there is a crazed person in the area, it is just a dream.

Perhaps my favorite type of dreams is daydreams. One type of daydream is more like an escape. Although fully awake, my mind moves into a scene that is a total fabrication of my psyche. Even so, it takes on a reality all its own. I suspect this is where more talented people than myself such as painters, musicians and authors venture within their minds in the creation of art.

Another daydream I have often experienced is that of avoidance. In a classroom, on a trip or in any situation that becomes a bit boring I often daydream of some other more enticing subject. This practice was repaid to me in spades when I was a teacher. Every educator has at some point looked at the faces in their classroom, and realized that many of the student’s minds had — like Elvis — left the building!

The word dream also is used regularly to describe concepts. The most famous one of all time was Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.

Individuals have personal goals and aspirations they refer to as their dreams. It is an age-old question that many have strived to attain or disdain ... should I follow my dreams?

I have often gone back and forth with my “would have, should have, could have” moments. I gaze back to many life decisions and choices. I try to decipher what would have happened if I have followed a different path or dream. Frost wrote the greatest poem of all time in my opinion, regarding that subject. His poem “The Road Not Taken,” says it in the simplest of terms. Even as I look back and wonder, I know I am only daydreaming with no real intent. Perhaps it is the way we humans have of dealing with some of our less fortunate past choices.

In our culture, there is perhaps no more famous dream story, than that of the Biblical character Joseph. His ability to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh is one of the Bible’s greatest adventure legends.

The arguments over dream interpretations have raged throughout history. In the world of psychology, dream interpretation was a pillar of their treatment. Sigmund Freud considered dreams to be keyholes into our unconscious mind where the fears, desires and emotions exist that we suppress in some form or another to hide from conscious thought (Wikipedia).

I’m not sure if I agree with that theory. It is hard for me to imagine that something as basically human as dreaming is sinister in any way. We all dream but we are not all mentally unstable.

So here’s my assignment for you readers. Tonight before you retire, try to plan for a special dream. See if you can make it happen. Wouldn’t that be a fantastic ability to develop?

By the way, while I was writing this column, I drifted off into several small daydreams. I just can’t help myself. I like dreams and dreaming. I think I’ll just put Waylon on and do it up right!