Life Changing Dreams

A recurring dream that changed my life.

Life Changing Dreams

 

            We have all had moments in our lives that lead us on a path that seemed to define our future.  A moment that we knew, instinctively, would change our lives forever.  Sometimes it was an easy choice and other times it was very hard and risky. 

            This was one of those choices I faced because of a dream that transformed my future into what and who I am today. 

 

            I’m walking on top of a cinder block wall that seems to go on as far as the eye can see, in either direction. 

            On the right side of the wall was a steep drop off into a deep ravine that quickly rises so that about 10 to 15 feet away from the top of the wall is a beautiful green grassy meadow full of wildflowers and huge shade trees.

            On the left side, the wall was only 2 foot high from the cobblestone sidewalk.  A tree was planted every 20 feet with a very intricately designed rod iron fence surrounding each perfectly manicured tree.

            Beyond these caged, manicured trees, was a noisy, busy city street with cars on their way to unknown destinations.

            As I walk along the top of this wall, I have an almost overwhelming desire to jump to my right, to reach the beautiful, peaceful meadow but fear holds me back. 

            The fear of falling into the deep ravine to oblivion stops me.  At the very least, even if I made it to the meadow, I would probably break a leg.

            To my left, just a short hop to the sidewalk.  Safety resides there.  No fear of being hurt there.

            I awaken.

 

            This recurring dream lasted several weeks.  At least once a week I would again dream of walking the wall to the point that I knew I was dreaming and I could manipulate some of my actions. 

            In one dream, I sat on the wall facing the meadow watching the squirrels play and the butterflies flutter from one wildflower to the next.

            Sometimes before going to sleep I would try to force myself to dream of the wall again.

            Then it happened.  As I walked the wall, a bicyclist rode by telling me to hurry.  I turned to look and everything behind me was disappearing.  Sure enough, I glanced behind me and a fog was devouring the street, sidewalk and the wall I was walked on.  Even the beautiful meadow was gone.

            It was time to move on, no more daydreaming for me.  I walked a little faster than normal, paying close attention to my steps on the wall when I realized the wall stopped.  Not just stopped, everything in front of me was gone and soon I would be at the end. 

            On either side of me, the sidewalk and street existed and so did the beautiful meadow and the deep ravine.  The nothingness behind was catching up to me. 

            Time was running out.  I had to get off the wall.  Decision time.  Do I step down to the street safely or risk jumping over the ravine to the meadow.  What if I was hurt?  There was no one to help me.  Would I die if I fell into the nothingness of the ravine?  So many questions ran through my brain.  Did I want to follow all the others and not risk the chance of being hurt with no help.

            Fear paralyzed me.  I wanted to lie in the grass under the shade trees but the fear of being helpless and in pain frightened me too. 

            I decided to take the safe way to the sidewalk with the hope I would get another chance at the meadow in the future.

            I took a deep breath and followed my heart to the meadow.  I no longer cared if I lived or died, was hurt or not, after all this was a dream. 

            I did not want to live always wondering ’What if?’  

           

            To this day, I have never had that dream again and I don’t know if I ever made it to the meadow, but I do know that because of my dream, the decisions I had been facing in my life at the time were influenced by this dream.

            Yes, I took a leap of faith and jumped into the uncertainty of life, risking failure and making the changes necessary in my life to never have to wonder ‘What if…?’

            Sometimes we have life changing decisions staring us in the face and I’m afraid most of us just wait hoping the decisions will be made for us or will become unnecessary.

            Maybe going back to school or quitting a dead end job to start your own company.  Maybe leaving a long time relationship or moving cross country are decisions in front of you.  I don’t know, but I do know life is too short to spend it wondering ‘What if?’

            I’m now happily married, in a different part of the country, writing and dancing my way through this life, with no regrets.  Can you say the same?           

 

Reviews

[Emily B]

Our dreams are our best guides. Though the meaning isn't always clear at first.

[Kyle]

Sometimes dreams are our inner subconcious awakening us to the fact that yes, we must take chances and step out into the unknown. Every decision made is a ripple effect in life that affects another somewhere in the pool of existing. Fear if you allow it, can be very exhilerating and oh so fun if you keep your eye on the path and jump when you must. Mountain Dawn has been a friend for 30 + yrs and she is a very talented lady with great insight. Very nice write and dreaming is the best part of our future.

[TamerQtaish]

Beautiful work for sure, and I agree with Vince about the dreams being a lot of times our fears reflected from within...
I truly enjoyed reading this, Great work... and once again, thanks for your Reviews

All the best,
Tamer Qtaish

[Kyle]

An outstanding look into the depth of your dreams in which could be an awakening to the hidden future. They say dreams are our fear revealed in some instances and you've the courage to face, accept what comes.

[briannachristine]

That was an awesome story! I wish I could have more decisive dreams like yours. It's definately inspirational and the way it was written was just as if you were telling the story. Very enticing! Thank you for sharing!