Or rather, because it's Monday, I suppose I did not have a dream...
And actually, I have not been plagued by a whole series of dreams-- nightmares really, premonitions, maybe-- that have left me scratching my head, wondering exactly what they're trying to tell me.
Won't you analyze them for me?
I don't think I've ever mentioned this on my blog, but I did not spend my entire youth underwater. From the time I was 7 until 17, I was a competitive swimmer, which means:-I did not have awful, frizzy, chlorine-contaminated hair that was a strange shade of green and never seemed to dry completely
-My shoulders were not so broad that I had to buy size tops two sizes too big
The day of my last race-- almost exactly 10 years ago, come to think of it-- at the Ohio High School State Championships, I did not dramatically quit the moment I completed my final race. My father did not have grand dreams of me continuing my swimming career at a Division 1 college; I did not have dreams of sleeping in until 9am every day, finally allowing my hair to return to some state of normalcy, and not looking like "The Incredible Hulk" in my clothes.
So I quit. Cold turkey.
I thought it was a decision I'd never regret... but now... now, I'm not so sure.
You see, every night for the past week, I have not been having dreams-- rather, nightmares-- about my submerged youth.
In one dream, I was not the 27-year-old married mother of one that I am today. I did not confront a 16-year-old competitor in the locker room, G in hand, to tell her that my out of shape butt was going to kick her very in shape butt. No, not me.
In another dream, I was at swim practice; and the same goofy guy who did not have a penchant for showing all his female teammates his, uh, goodies (talk about sexual harassment) was not once again flashing me under water.
And in the dream I had just last night-- the dream that made me realize I had a serious problem-- I was not back at the old pool at Cleveland State, swimming my best time in the 100 freestyle at the ripe old age of 27. (That picture at left is, in fact, the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium... where I spent farrrrrr too many weekends as a child/teenager.)But I'll spare you the painful details.
Maybe if I'd just one of these dreams, I wouldn't be concerned. But it's impossible to overlook seven straight nights.
They've made me think that maybe, my swimming days aren't over. That maybe I did not make a mistake walking away from a sport that gave me so much of my identity as a kid. That maybe I should not have continued swimming over the past decade-- maybe not competitively, but at least on some level. Or that maybe, G-- my precious little water baby who already loves to splash in the pool-- is not Will you analyze my dreams?
Carol & Carlee, I am expecting responses from you!!!
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Hmmm I'd say subconsciencously you are regretting giving up swimming. OR you're having the what-if moments in your dreams. hmmmmmmmmm
Since I don't believe dreams have any kind of hidden meaning at all, I can't analyze them-maybe it just menas you are thinking about swimming in real life for whatever reason. Maybe the stupid Michael Phelps Subway commercial? :)
I think it means you are suppose to be swimming now! ...and exposing your daughter to the water!
Just a guess!
I'm not a psychic or anything, but I'm seeing swimming as a common theme.
Alright...
sometimes things are substitutions in dreams. For example, swimming may represent your childhood. If these dreams are distressing, it could mean there's something undone. Or swimming could represent childhood (not yours) and the confrontations could be the concerns you have for your daughter.
These are just examples.
AND, of course, some dreams are just ordinary and don't mean much at all.
I always thought water dreams were supposed to be about sex...or fertility....
As Dori on Nemo says Keep Swimming Keep Swimming =)
I don't know what dreams mean but it is really wild that you've had the same type 7 days in a row!
I'm pretty sure your heart is telling you that you still belong in the water. :) That or maybe you've had a full bladder in the middle of the night and it's making you dream of swimming in a big pool of water(representing pee). ;)
Hmm, not sure I can be any help. I have some doozies myself. Dreams are certainly strange at the best of times.
you should try Janet Evanovich. All her books are Hilarious! I think I own every single book she's ever written. Well maybe not all but I have all her Re released, the entire plum series and then the Alex Barnaby books
I was a swimmer too in my younger days! I was "ok" but I really enjoyed it. it was the only sport I ever did..lol...I have always wanted to swim for health, but I always needed that coach to push me..I will admit I'm a quitter.lol
I am always wondering about my own dreams as well. Last night I dreamt about miniature dolphins in an aquarium??? Thanks for stopping by my blog! Love yours! Have a good week!
I'm really not the right person to analyze any kinda dream. I have some pretty weird dreams myself, and I have no idea what the hell is going on in them. Craziness everywhere.
I agree on the binky. I have an uncle that's a pediatrician that's telling me to break her from it, but I just can't do it yet. I should, but I won't. Thanks for stopping by my blog! Oh, and, I follow you now!
We, Africans, or most of us, believe that there is always a hidden message in dreams. I am no exception. Just don't know how to analyze them. But I have figured out at least one thing about my dreams. Whenever I would dream about a snake, someone very close to me is going to pass away. The first four times, I thought nothing about it. Two more times, and I freaked out. From there one, everytime I dreamed about a snake, I called three people: My mother, my brother, and my best friend. Each and every time, someone passed on within a week of my dreams. To make it even worse, I once dreamed about two snakes. And two family members passed away. Accident.
Strange? Apparently, I am a strange creature.
Well, it may just be a long list of coincidences. But I certainly could have done without them. That is what my grandmother used to say.
Water is supposed to be good, but not in large quantities.
From the dreams you shared, it seems like you go back in the past and relive the glory days. Are you feeling like you're moving on to a new stage - out of a younger one? Just an observation...I'm sometimes good at this - sometimes not. (And, please don't take this as me saying you're old, because I'm probably years older than you!)
Or, you say this is what your dad wanted for you - do you feel like you're in a place of favor right now? - Maybe this is your subconscious acting that out...people around you are pleased with where you are in life...are you? (Or, maybe I'm way off base, here...I'm just guessing, of course...)
Just a stab - I don't know...
Thanks for the shot out :) (I can't believe this is my first comment)
I am in the same boat as you, since we quit in the same fashion, that I miss it every once in a while as well. With that said, I have only swam 2 times in over 3 years! Maybe there is a Masters program in your future, I started to do triathlons which is filling the void nicely.
On a side note, I sure hope G follows in your ballerina footsteps and not your swimming fins. I wouldn't wish upon you waking up to take her for practice.....