Inspiration for those that are frustrated (warning long post)

[AlwaysCanadian]

Hello Everyone I wanted to tell my LD story so that those that are getting frustrated can have some hope. I am a 35 year old male who is happily married and has two beautiful kids. I had a couple lucid dreams when I was a kid, which I still remember, but never looked into the subject. A couple of years ago I was talking about dreaming with someone and I decided to look up being awake in your dreams. Well like many here, I discovered that it wasn't as rare as I had thought and that you could teach yourself to have lucid dreams. I bought 2 books on the subject and read all I could on the internet. The first 2 months I was diligent in writing in my dream journal and doing rc's during the day and such but didn't have any luck. After 2 months I got a bit frustrated and lost interest a bit. I would write in my dream journal a couple of nights then not write anything for a couple of months. I enjoyed relaxing before bed and watching the sleep onset imagery (I guess practicing the wild technique) even though I knew I wouldn't have a lucid dream using this method when first going to bed. I carried on semi interested for about a year. One night at work, after sleeping about 6 hours at home during the day, I put my feet up at 11:00pm and went for a nap (yes I sleep at work when things are quite) I was remaining still and watching the sleep onset imagery when all of the sudden I saw a television with someone on it talking. I also heard his voice clear as if he was standing beside me in my office. Well that startled me awake, I realized I was probably entering a lucid dream and tried again but only fell asleep. 2 weeks ago, I decided i would really focus on lucid dreaming and try to remain diligent in my practice and dream journal entries. Anything good in life has to be worked for and I decided this was worth the relatively little effort every day. I had 2 dream less nights when on the third night I saw a convertible porsche that looked really strange. I looked closer and saw that it had a huge back seat. I mean it looked like an 8' leather couch for a back seat. I laughed out loud and said "only in a dream". BAM it hit me like a ton of bricks. "I'm dreaming" I thought "I finally did it" and at that moment I instantly woke up. I didn't have time to calm down or spin...it was over the second I realized it. Never the less I awoke in a great mood and was convinced that with the first one out of the way the next would come sooner (I hoped). Yesterday at work I did the few jobs I had (I work in the maintenance department of a mill). I laid down some foam mats and a pillow and decided to have a nap. I had 6 hours sleep the night before and it was 10:30 in the morning so I thought I would try to have a W.I.L.D. I laid down, scratched myself, coughed, picked my nose etc. until I was ready to remain still. After about 15 minutes I started to see flashes and I knew sleep was coming soon so I started counting in my head "1... I'm dreaming 2...I'm dreaming" etc. I lost count several times because I was paying attention to the imagery or daydreaming. However, I wen't right back to counting. I felt my body get heavy and numb. The next thing I know my mind was perfectly clear. I could completely focus on counting and my mind had no other distractions...just perfect clarity. Then I heard voices. At first I thought the 2 other guys who were working were downstairs but I realized it wasn't their voices I heard and there were more than two. I was sure someone was downstairs because I was still awake (or so I thought) and I could hear them clear as day. I was startled and tried to get up but couldn't. I didn't want to open my eyes and ruin what I was trying to accomplish. At this point the voices were gone and the only sound was the hum of the heater fan. I realized this was part of the process and remained calm. A couple minutes later I heard people talking again and after a couple minutes I decided I was going to open my eyes. Well I did and the room was no longer dark anymore. The lights were not on but I could see fine. I reached out and touched something on the shelf and I felt it. I knew at this point I was in a dream so I got up. I walked out the door and there was my boss and my dad standing there. I said hi to both but walked past them wanting to explore a little. I must say during this experience I was lucid but not fully. I knew I was dreaming but wasn't thinking as clearly as I would have liked. Anyhow, I walked down the stairs and with about 3 stairs to go I decided to jump the rest and see if I would float down. Well I fell at about the same speed as I would have if I was awake but landed with no impact. I went outside and noticed a bunch of guys from work in the parking lot and it was now night time. I took a few steps and decided I would try to fly. I took off into the air about 100' and looked down. I then wanted to make sure I could land okay and flew down (a little faster than I would have cared for) but landed fine. At this point I woke up, did a rc to make sure I was actually awake, then spent the rest of the day thinking about it and smiling. Sorry for the long post but for those of you who haven't had much success don't give up. Take a brake from it if you have to but keep working at it because it will come eventually. If I had stuck with it the whole time I doubt it would have taken 2 years but whatever. One more thing, those voices were kind of freaky. To be laying there, still awake as far a your concerned, then hearing voices as if the were 10' away but knowing that there can't be anyone there is a very unbelieveable experience and one I won't soon forget. Cheers!

[Mariano]

beautiful post...it was not too large...for me, it's very short =) but nice to see your story... I must say, I felt a little frustrated ...but...when I found motivation to keep going because I knew I was advancing...I kept going...and I will keep going....still, with 0 lucid...but I will keep trying... thanks for you post... bye

[FlyAway]

Ive noticed this with me lately, Not good at getting it, Felt like giving up but im not Thanks for the encouragement thread

[Prestige]

This has been such a pleasant post to read, Thanks for sharing all of this with us.

[BigFan]

Congrats on your LDs. I was in a state of giving up, mostly because I was occupied with something else, but, I had my first LD last night which reignited my ambition

[Quigin]

Thanks! that gave me alot of inspiration!

[Clairity]

At this point I woke up, did a rc to make sure I was actually awake, then spent the rest of the day thinking about it and smiling. I can so relate to that "feel good" feeling after a lucid. What a wonderful (and most needed) post!! Thanks for sharing!! .

[redisreddish]

I feel happy now. I haven't been able to have a lucid dream for a few months now, but I'm going to keep trying!

[183smiles]

Thank you! You made me realize that other people are having just as hard of a time accomplishing lucidity as I am.

[torin_93]

Inspiration!

[Robot_Butler]

Thanks for the inspiration. That is a great story. Lets hope that was the first of many fantastic lucids

[Cowmaster94]

Thanks for the inspiration! I feel more confident!