dream signs.... OBVIOUS~~ but...

well
i do realize i have a dream sign that i should be able to know i am dreaming
and the sign is in almost every single dream
the sign is my cousins
the thing is though, i used to live in florida close to my cousins so i saw them almost every day
but now i moved to virginia (about 1 year ago)
but still theyre in most of my dreams.. i mean it should be OBVIOUS that im dreaming, but i can NEVER tell... i mean god damn am i stupid??
i wake up and then i remember the dream with them and then i think... "Holy Shit, how did i not think i was dreaming"

its the same with most of my dreams, they are SO wrong (i was playing tag with talking animals) but i still wasnt able to tell

why is this? why cant i realize that something is off and that its a dream?

Well if your not actually looking for dreamsigns while you're in a dream, anything that happens can seem normal. And most of the time, you're not looking for dream signs in your dreams... So there's not a whole lot that you can do from what I know.

Basically, you should just practice normal reality checks like the hand and nose and clock checks while you're awake. Also keep note of your surroundings and how everything is normal since you are awake. Anytime something weird happens, do a reality check. You have to try to be more aware and observant of everything while you are awake, so you can be in dreams also. If you do this often enough while you are awake, it might get easier to regognize dream signs. Also, think about your dream signs while you're trying to fall asleep. Just lay there thinking that if you see your cousins that you will know you are dreaming and go lucid. Also stay confident that you will be lucid in the dream.

Don't get frustrated over anything, just keep trying and practicing.