Dreams. A word as simple as that can evoke some of the most profound thoughts in people. Dreams are such a powerful force in our minds, sometimes to the point where it is scary to even think about, but magical and wonderful all at the same time. As Taylor Swift said in her song “22,” “happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time” is kind of how dreams make us feel both during them and after them if we can remember enough. That brings me to another funny thought. How come we can remember some dreams so vividly that we feel as though we have just lived through them and others we cannot recall no matter how hard we try? What drives our dreams?

I think that there are times where dreams can be driven by events that happened in our lives, recently or in the past, that leave a subconscious urge to do something about it. To finish something that was started, say something that was left unsaid, do something that we wish we had done in the moment. There are moments where dreams can feel like a second chance for us, a place and time where we can stand up and say “I object” or “kiss me, stupid” or anything else that we wish we had the courage to do in real life. Acting in a dream can put to ease some of the regrets we have that maybe we know we were right in not doing but still thought about. Even if dreams are not as serious as you would call this, then they are just the place to let loose and have fun for your imagination! You can swim in pools of chocolate pudding, frolic through a candy cane forest, swing on licorice vines. You can do and be whatever you want in your dream world, and it is a beautiful thing.

The scary part is that some people take the concept of dreaming and their sleeping world too far. People claim dreams made them do it, or someone came to them in a dream and told them to do something bad. They make it an excuse, taking away from the sanctuary that people crave when they need to get away from it all. These people make it a scary place that seems like you could get lost in your own mind and never come back out.

Dreams are other worlds. Other worlds where miracles can happen. Loved ones taken from us love to come back and visit in dreams, and those are the ones you’ll surely never forget. Let your mind take you to that other world as you drift off into sleep, even if for a few mere hours. Drift away to a world that’s all your own.