Did you ever awaken from a dream to find that it has leaked into your real life? Sometimes, actual physical or emotional reactions can follow you from one world to the other. I’ve awakened to find that I’m tangibly aroused by activities that never really took place, or that I’m angry with someone for something they didn’t really do. It’s not rational, I know; but I feel those things just the same.

I’ve recently found myself discussing dreams with a friend, and it makes me wonder what causes us to dream the things we dream when we’re asleep?

Disney tells us “a dream is a wish that your heart makes.” Hmmmmm… I don’t think that applies to my dreams. I seem to always have dreams that fall into one of two categories: either there is some danger (usually a natural disaster or home intruder) or there is extreme frustration (these are usually about work or being interrupted while trying to have sex). I rarely have a pleasant, peaceful dream. Somehow, I don’t think those are the wishes my heart’s been making…

Another thing I’ve noticed is that almost everything I see or hear in my dreams can be traced back to something I’ve experienced recently in my waking life—something I’ve seen on TV, heard on the radio, or discussed with someone. My daily life seems to invade my dreams. Sometimes the combinations make for some wild and bizarre dreams. What does that say about me?

It’s not that I have no imagination. When I’m awake, I’m perfectly able to daydream and fantasize. I can imagine all sorts of extremely pleasurable emotions and situations. I can think them, I can write them, I can make others imagine them. Why does that change when I fall asleep? Why does my subconscious always seem to be so serious?

I don’t know. Maybe I’ll never know.