Yes, that's right. According to a 2012 article by WebMD, I'm next of kin to 34 percent of people in a then-new survey of 3,000 individuals who said "they can sometimes control what happens in their dream."
I'm literally part of the minority.
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This is surprising news, largely because many conversations with friends of mine have revealed to me that I indeed possess the somewhat unique talent of controlling my actions, and even those of others, during my dreams.
For this, I'm incredibly thankful. I'm thankful because my dreams have helped me solve problems in my real life time and time again, partly because I get to ask the questions I don't have answers to outside the dream world.
I recall walking around a snowy, desolate urban center, completely unlike my sunny Miami neighborhood, on an equally ghastly winter evening. I came upon a dimly lit diner which I sensed held answers inside.
At that point in the dream, I could've chosen to explore the city, or steal a car, or take flight using my own arms - but I chose a pedestrian future and walked inside the restaurant.
There, I saw the two interviewees I was looking for - my ex-girlfriend and her new beau.
I sat down in front of them with practiced bravado, as if I've done this a thousand times before and as if they were expecting me.
"What are you doing here? Can't you get over it all already?" she says.
"Yeah, man. It's OK, you don't have to worry. Your time is over. Just wake up and have fun with your life," her new partner adds.
"Oh, really?! That's exactly what I wanted to know. Because, you see, I miss you a lot; I really do. But if it's not meant to be, that's OK. I understand. In fact, I'll happily move on! I just want to know that it's the right thing to do."
The both of them smile at me, and they kiss each other with candor not unlike the one we used to show.
It's only at that point that I lose control of my desire to stay in the dream. Once my questions are answered, it's time to wake up and act on them.
I find it refreshignly fascinating that dreams like these are harder than easier to come by. I can attribute several decisions I've made to the wisdom brought to me by the characters and situations in my dreams, which really is quite crazy to think.
Any other lucid dreamers out there looking to share their thoughts?
