I had my first lucid experience today, a few minutes ago. I've been browsing this place for a while now but I finally feel like I have something worthwhile to post.

I dreamed that I was playing a video game with a Playstation 3 controller, in which I was controlling a little drone-- although I don't remember actually looking at a TV screen. It could fly really quickly and nimbly, and could lock on to any target with green square lockon tech. I was flying over a highway in an alpine region, but the environment didn't stand out to me too much. Eventually, I was left holding the controller and actually flying through the air. It was exhilerating and I could feel every motion as though I was actually there. The sound of the drone was still there, and it sounded like an electric shaver in a ceramic bowl. After a few minutes of this, however, I thought I might be dreaming. I started experimenting with control, and found I could do what I wanted and fly wherever I wanted to go. At that point, I pinched my nose and realized I could still breathe. I got really excited because I was becoming lucid,so I closed my eyes to breathe deeply and try and do a dream spin. At this point, however, everything unraveled and when I opened my eyes reality was flickering back around me. I made sure it wasn't a false awakening, but I was indeed awake.

GAH. I was so close, and I was definitely lucid for a short period of time. I had been trying different lucid dreaming techniques for a while now, but it was the reality check and a few personal dream signs that finally clued me in. How did you get over that initial excitement, o seasoned veterans of the veil?