What Are You Going To Regret As Life Passes You By? --- 11/13/2008

Retired Restauranter is Restless

Cautious balding Tim wished he had taken opportunities to parachute, sing professionally and sign that contract for an acting role. At fifty-five he wanted out of the restaurant trade but had nothing to put in its place. How about being dropped from a plane in the Amazon jungle coming face to face with a snake thrusting its fangs out at him?

A Scary Dream of Snakes Comes Again and Again

That was the dream Tim had seared into his brain as he awoke in a cold sweat with his heart pounding and body shaking. The dream persisted for years no matter how he tried to strangle it. Tim associated snakes with evil and danger, so why would he dream about facing something so sinister? All his life Tim had been in the business of feeding others. Just like snakes gulping live animals, he had swallowed him ambitions without biting and tasting their texture and flavor.

Chance For Re-birth

Snakes also shed their skin and represent re-birth. Tim's dream invitied him to to regurgitate his ‘animal’ self - those desires he once had, and chew on them. A wake up call from the unconscious screamed through the dream in a way he couldn’t ignore, begging him to shed his risk averse skin. Like patient friends his snake dreams repeated their message but Tim didn’t want to hear.

The Ball is Dropped

Tim ignored his snake dreams. He defied their urgent messages, telling him not to waste anymore of his precious life. He allowed himself fantasies and some vicarious pleasures by listening to singers he admired and had once aspired to emulate. He was brilliant at finding all reasons why he shouldn't make any move towards his true callings. His dialogue of disappointment, struggle and uncertain rewards snuffed out the hopeful messages in the dream. He didn't want to go through the labor pains. He was too chicken!!

Now Come The Regrets

Tim, now 60 years old is recovering from heart by-pass surgery. The shock woke him up to his numbered days on earth. He wants to do everything, make up for lost time. But his body won't let him. He wasted his chance. He is wishing he had paid attention to the snake dreams.

You may have dreams that disturb and annoy you. They come to tell you something that you really need to know, with benevolent intentions. Give them some room to speak to you and you will benefit enormously. After all, it is your own unconscious that is trying to communicate with you. Why wouldn't you want to be in contact with all parts of yourself?