Dreams Are Interesting Sometimes

Nothing big and significant but I had a dream this morning that was at least interesting and I think shows how our brains work. Last evening my wife and I were talking about the changes in jobs that I have undergone in the past 4 years. The first job was working in the local middle schools as a chemical health counselor. It was a wonderful job that was for me almost a dream job. It was fun, always changing, always interacting with people- both the students and my co-workers. Many schools really are a community of teachers who work together to build as good an educational system as they can and I was lucky in those two years to have such schools.

Then, with the grant running out as well as needing a job that paid more, I left and took another job. It wasn't a bad job and the pay was very good. But it was never the same. There is something quite unique in a school setting that a small treatment center cannot equal. I had good co-workers at the new job and I have always loved running groups and doing evaluations. But that something special wasn't there.

As my regular readers know I took a new job last December in a very large health system. The addictions department is relatively small in the great scheme of things but it is a wide, diverse and fun group. I am doing lots of different things during any given day and having some really fun times. In some ways it reminds me of being back at the school.

Which brings me to last night's conversation. At one point my wife looked at me and said, "You've finally let go of the school job." I argued half-heartedly that I had done that long ago, but she just gave that smile that says, "Sure. I'll let you think that" and changed the subject.

This morning, the last dream I had just before the alarm went off was back in those schools. I was at all three of the schools I worked in, going around, telling people what I had been doing and how where I am now working. I was saying "Good-bye" to the people I had worked with. It was a fun dream, uplifting actually.

As I started my day today I realized that I had finally done what I needed to do. Yes, I am sure it was triggered by the conversation last evening. But I also know that our sub- and pre-conscious mind knows more about what we need than we realize. When the time is right things like this can happen. And we can move on.

I know that not all dreams are so clear-cut as this one seems to be. But when they are, I am grateful. Now, how do I admit to my wife that she was right?

Oh, yes. Just admit I was wrong. It isn't all that hard. I think it's called the 10th step in the 12-Step program.