I dreamt of being with a group of Taiwanese wives beside a railroad, watching an outdoor movie.
In front of this outdoor cinema, there was a band that would intermittently perform live alongside the movie. Sometimes, they would engage the audience in wave dancing. Occasionally, there were some comical performances that encouraged audience participation.
As the performances and games unfolded, it reminded me of the lively nights I used to spend dancing and enjoying myself in Taiwan. Now back in the United States, those days of high energy and lively dancing feel increasingly distant.
I wasn't very familiar with these Taiwanese wives; today, I was just attending their gathering. I followed them to an indoor space, where I saw the community founder, KC, discussing fundraising and event organization with the group.
Coincidentally, I bumped into some senior sisters from Dharma Drum Mountain. Sister Diana mentioned that there were two meeting notes that needed my assistance. One of them was originally meant to be recorded by another sister who had to suddenly return to Taiwan, so she hoped I could help out.
I thought to myself: "Oh no, I still have to organize the classroom logs for my Buddhist studies, and there are two blog articles I need to write. I'm already overwhelmed with tasks, and many materials require time to sort through; I might not be able to finish everything." Then, feeling quite embarrassed, I asked Sister Diana if she could help.
Just then, the music started playing again, it was the cha-cha, my favorite. I looked down from the upper floor and saw many people by the dance floor. My heart was itching, longing to dance.
The lead singer came down to invite everyone to dance, but everyone was too shy to move. The more I listened to the music, the more my feet itched. This was the kind of music I loved dancing to in clubs before.
I spotted a metal pole on the second floor, so I slid down and reached the ground floor. I walked around the crowd, and the middle of the dance floor was still empty because everyone was hesitant to dance.
I saw the lead singer, Mok, and waved to him. I thought I could follow him and lead everyone in dancing the cha-cha. With the rhythm of the music, Mok explained while leading me, and I followed his steps, dancing the cha-cha together.
I was incredibly happy. It had been so long since I last danced; my dancing skills were rusty, and I had forgotten some steps, but I was still very happy. I also felt like I had gained weight; my once graceful and nimble movements were no longer there.
However, I continued to dance the cha-cha, feeling so happy, longing to dance more.
夢見我跟一群台灣太太在鐵道旁邊，看著露天電影。
這個露天電影院前面有一個樂團，隨著電影的演出，會穿插現場演奏。有時會和現場群眾一起玩波浪舞。有時會有一些滑稽的表演，讓群眾可以參與。
一邊表演與遊戲的過程，讓我想起之前我在台灣去夜店跳舞玩樂的情緒。現在回到美國，這些熱力四射、勁歌熱舞的日子已經距離我越來越遙遠。
我跟這群台灣太太並不熟，今天就是來參加她們的聚會。我跟著她們來到一個室內空間，看到社群創辦人 KC，她和大家商討集資辦活動的事。
剛好遇到其他法鼓山的師姐。Diana 師姐提到有兩個會議記錄，需要我的協助。其中一個會議記錄本來是另一位師姐要記錄，但她臨時要回台灣，希望我能幫忙。
我心想：糟糕，我還有佛學班的教室日誌要整理，而且還有兩個網誌的文章要寫，現在正處於負荷滿載的時間，很多資料都要花時間整理，可能真的做不完。然後我就很不好意思地問 Diana 師姐，不知她是否可以幫忙？
此時音樂又響起，這是我喜愛的恰恰。我從樓上往下看，有好多人在舞池邊。我的心好癢，好想去跳舞。
樂團主唱都下場邀請大家一起來跳舞，可是大家都很害羞，沒動。我越聽音樂、腳越癢。這些都是以前我在夜店很喜歡的音樂，很能跳舞的音樂。
我在二樓看到有根鐵桿，我就順著滑下去，來到一樓。我在旁邊人群中走動，舞池中間還是空的，因為大家都不敢跳。
我看到主唱小莫，跟他招手。心想我可以跟著小莫，一起帶著大家來跳恰恰。隨著音樂的節拍，小莫一面解說、一面拉著我，我就是配合他的步伐，一起跳恰恰。
我真是開心極了。覺得好久沒跳舞了， 舞技生疏了，也忘記一些腳步，但還是很開心。也覺得現在自己變胖了，以前婀娜多姿扭動的身段，現在也沒有了。
不過我還是繼續跳恰恰，很開心，好想跳舞。
Here are a few alternative endings for your dream, each with a different tone and focus:
Ending 1: Resolution and Fulfillment
"As I danced the cha-cha with Mok, I felt a renewed sense of energy and joy. The crowd around us gradually joined in, their initial hesitation melting away as they followed our lead. The dance floor became a vibrant sea of movement and laughter. After the music ended, I felt a deep sense of fulfillment. I realized that no matter how busy life gets, there is always room for joy and community. I resolved to balance my responsibilities with the things that bring me happiness."
Ending 2: Unexpected Revelation
"Just as the music reached its peak and I was fully immersed in the dance, I noticed a familiar face in the crowd – it was an old friend from Taiwan whom I hadn't seen in years. We embraced and danced together, catching up between steps. She reminded me of the carefree times we had shared and encouraged me to reconnect with other friends. This unexpected reunion filled me with a sense of belonging and the motivation to reconnect with my past while embracing my present."
Ending 3: Inner Peace and Clarity
"While dancing, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. The worries about my tasks and responsibilities faded into the background. As the music slowed, Mok turned to me and said, 'Remember, it's important to find balance in life.' His words resonated deeply. I decided to set aside specific times for work and relaxation, ensuring that I could enjoy moments of happiness without guilt. With this newfound clarity, I knew I could handle my responsibilities more effectively."
Ending 4: A New Opportunity
"After the dance, Mok approached me and complimented my dancing skills. He mentioned that they were looking for volunteers to help organize more dance events and suggested I join their team. The idea of blending my love for dancing with a sense of purpose excited me. I accepted the offer, knowing it would be a rewarding way to stay connected to my passion while contributing to the community. This new opportunity brought a fresh perspective to my life, making me feel more balanced and fulfilled."
Ending 5: Awakening with Inspiration
"Just as the dance was ending, I felt a gentle nudge on my shoulder. I woke up, still feeling the rhythm of the cha-cha in my heart. The dream had left a profound impact on me. Inspired and motivated, I decided to set aside time each week to dance and reconnect with my creative side. I also reached out to Sister Diana to discuss how we could better share our responsibilities, ensuring no one felt overwhelmed. The dream had shown me the importance of balance, joy, and community."
Ending 6: A New Journey Begins
"As the final notes of the cha-cha played, Mok announced an upcoming dance tour across different communities to spread joy and encourage participation. He invited me to join the tour as a co-leader, an opportunity that both thrilled and terrified me. I accepted, recognizing it as a chance to reconnect with my passion for dance and to inspire others. This new journey promised to be filled with adventure, challenges, and immense satisfaction, blending my love for dancing with a meaningful purpose."
Each of these endings provides a different perspective and resolution to your dream, allowing for various interpretations and directions for your subconscious narrative.
Interpreting dreams can be highly subjective and often depends on the dreamer's personal experiences, emotions, and subconscious thoughts. Here are some possible interpretations of your dream:
Cultural Connection and Nostalgia
Your dream prominently features elements of Taiwanese culture, such as outdoor movies, live music performances, and a group of Taiwanese wives. This could signify a deep connection to Taiwanese culture and a sense of nostalgia for the lively, community-centered activities you once enjoyed there. The dream may reflect a longing for those vibrant social experiences and a sense of belonging you felt in Taiwan.
Balancing Responsibilities and Joy
The dream juxtaposes scenes of joyful dancing with tasks and responsibilities, such as organizing classroom logs, writing blog articles, and assisting with meeting notes. This contrast might symbolize the struggle to balance your work obligations with your personal desires and joy. The feeling of being overwhelmed by tasks could indicate stress in your waking life, while the urge to dance represents a longing for freedom and enjoyment.
Community and Support
Encountering the community founder, KC, and senior sisters from Dharma Drum Mountain suggests a strong sense of community and the importance of support networks in your life. This part of the dream might be highlighting the value of communal support and collaboration, especially when facing numerous tasks and responsibilities.
Yearning for Creative Expression
Dancing, particularly to the cha-cha, symbolizes creative expression and the joy it brings you. Your dream might be urging you to reconnect with activities that allow you to express yourself creatively and freely. Despite feeling rusty and conscious of your weight gain, the happiness you felt while dancing indicates that engaging in such activities can bring immense satisfaction and happiness.
Internal Conflict
Feeling overwhelmed by tasks but still longing to dance reveals an internal conflict between duty and desire. This might suggest that in your waking life, you are grappling with prioritizing responsibilities over personal enjoyment. The dream encourages finding a balance that allows you to fulfill your obligations while also making time for activities that bring you joy.
Taking Initiative
Sliding down the pole and leading the dance with Mok demonstrates initiative and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. This could signify a latent desire to take charge and lead, whether in social situations or in tackling your responsibilities.
Conclusion
Overall, your dream seems to reflect a deep-seated nostalgia for your past experiences in Taiwan, a struggle to balance responsibilities with personal joy, the importance of community and support, and a desire for creative expression and taking initiative. The recurring theme of dancing serves as a powerful symbol of joy, freedom, and self-expression, urging you to make space for these elements in your life despite the pressures and tasks you face.