Saturday morning I woke up after having a dream that I wanted to order a drink at a restaurant, but I couldn’t remember what it was I wanted. No one who was sitting with me nor the waiter seemed to be able to figure it out either. I thought that if I looked at the drink menu, I’d see it listed, but it wasn’t there. Then I thought if I looked up vodka and tomato juice, surely what I was wanting would come up on Google. It didn’t. Anyway, I was thoroughly flustered while also realizing just how absurd it was that I couldn’t remember nor find the name of this very popular beverage.
I woke up determined to figure out the name of the drink that was eluding me. Within seconds, right before I reached for my phone, “Bloody Mary” popped into my brain. Ah! That was it. And, duh! Of course that was it. What was so difficult about remembering that? It’s been a while since I’ve had one, but not that long. It also felt good to know I haven’t lost all of my marbles just yet.
I’m not positive what my dream was about, but it’s something for me to contemplate because it seemed so important at the time. Maybe what was most on my mind is that yesterday I came across an online article (it turns out this is old news but I just discovered it) — that a study found that taking Tylenol PM or Advil PM or other anticholinergics puts you at a higher risk of developing cognitive issues. And yet last night I didn’t hesitate to take half of an Advil PM to help me sleep. So maybe that’s what my dream was trying to emphasize to me — I shouldn’t be increasing my odds of developing cognitive issues by taking Advil PM anymore. So, will I be taking an Advil PM tonight? Even if I want one really, really badly because it really gives me a great night’s sleep?
Not even in my wildest dreams.
Also, if nothing else, I love the irony that my dream — while on Advil PM — might have been telling me I shouldn’t be taking Advil PM.
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Speaking of learning new things, this past week I also came across a study from Norway that says that writing longhand may improve cognitive function and memory. That might explain the reason that when I started considering some projects for this year, I couldn’t seem to be able to type up my thoughts. I felt this urge to figure stuff out on paper, specifically, in a spiral. Once I was able to procure one (I didn’t have a spiral readily available), the ideas started flowing as I rapidly scribbled one thing down before going to the next. My brain started working the way I needed it to — FINALLY!
- So, no more Advil PM. Check.
- Write longhand on a daily basis. Check.
Lastly, I love when I can give a shout out to other bloggers and their posts whenever they’ve posted something that goes along with whatever I’m writing about. So, blogger friend, Rhonda at Pollyanna’s Path has a post, “New Words and Smart People” that definitely gave me something to think about! Blogger friend, Chris at Freethinker’s Anonymous also has a funny post, “Independent Study,” as well as some keen insights about learning. I hope you get the opportunity to check them both out if you haven’t already!
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Questions:
- What is something you learned this past week or since the start of 2024?
- Do you still dream and remember them? My husband says that he doesn’t.
- Have you ever learned something from a dream you’ve had? If so, would you please share?
- Do you see a difference in the way your brain works whenever you write by hand versus when you type?
- Do you think that most things we dream about are representative of other things? In my instance, it wasn’t the bloody Mary itself that was representative as much as the fact that I couldn’t recall it by name that was representative of “losing my marbles.”
I hope everyone has a great week ahead!
And music —
and
and
TTFN,
Mona
Hi. I like the idea of writing longhand at least a bit. We all do enough typing on keyboards. I think I’ve read that Joyce Carol Oates writes her books on paper, rather than on computers.
Neil,
That’s amazing! Can’t imagine writing an entire book on paper, but that makes perfect sense. Still, my hand is cramping just thinking about it.
Ok…I learned that body autonomy vis a vis drug use is a thing. I rarely remember my dreams…maybe once every two months. My brain never works no matter what, but when it comes to planning things it’s always by hand. I keep a paper planner and use paper lists. While I have a calendar on my phone, I also keep a physical one. I’m a firm believer that your dreams are not literal but represent something else. But what do I know? My brain barely works when I’m awake….
LA,
You and me both! Only, are you saying about the body autonomy thing that a person’s drug use is a choice and that the drug doesn’t dictate what they do? Or something else? I enjoy learning stuff like that. Thanks for sharing! Mona
Hi, Mona…love your questions and love the link to the longhand study…and the music you’ve included. Lovely! Drafting things, longhand-style, definitely gives me a creative edge. (Good music does, too!) xo! 🥰
Vicki,
It’s always a pleasure to have you comment! Glad you enjoyed these. Longhand does seem to have its advantages as does music! Hugs, Mona
Thanks for the shoutout, Mona! In answer to some of the questions you posed at the end of your post: I dream, but don’t always remember my dreams. My completely unprofressional “hot take”on the dream you had is that it has something to do with knowing you want something but not being sure how to ask for it or what that “something” specifically is. I think writing longhand is a great thing to do from time to time, especially as a blogger. Changing things up a bit is good for our writing brains, in my opinion.
I don’t even remember when was the last time I remembered a dream 🙃
But your comment did remind me of a magnificent Shaw quote, Rhonda, ‘I hear you say “Why?” Always “Why?” You see things; and you say “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say “Why not?”’
And in answer if something new I just learned, guess what state has the most lighthouses?
No, not Maine.
No, not Alaska.
Michigan! 🤓
Hey EW,
Thanks for the 4-1-1 on lighthouses! Now I learned something new today, too! Mona
My pleasure, Rhonda! Interesting analysis of my dream. I’ll cogitate on that. I used to write all of my morning pages in a spiral but the con of that is storage and retrieval and, of course, hand cramps. Still, when I need to get into the nitty gritty, nothing works as well. Have a great week ahead! 😊 Mona
I am going to try writing longhand. I find that since being diagnosed 5 years ago with Parkinson’s Disease I struggle more and more with blogging. The ideas are in my head but getting them to the blog is a challenge. Maybe writing them out first is the key.
Ruth,
Hopefully, longhand will work out for you! With my very ADHD brain, I have to use whatever will work to get myself to settle down enough to get my brain firing on all cylinders. Some days are better than others. If I were to compare it to anything, it would be Chitty-Chitty Bang Bang! Anyway, I’m so glad you stopped by and hope you visit often! 😊 Mona
The brain is so interesting, isn’t it? But I’m all for giving it a boost by writing long-hand. A great idea! Love that it worked for you.
Wynne,
Yes, I agree. Everyone can use a boost now and again!😉 Have a wonderful week ahead! Mona
First of all thank you so much for the shoutout! Since I’ve been reading a book called Mozart’s Starling I’ve learned a lot of fun facts about starlings that make me like them a lot more even though they’re an invasive species here. The coolest thing is they can mimic speech and all kinds of other sounds, and they’re very smart.
And don’t get me started on dreams. I remember a lot of my dreams and it’s weird that sometimes in them I’m a completely different person. Many years ago I had a dream I was not only a woman, with a completely different personal history, but I was married to Gene Shalit. Why my brain pulled out such a bizarre reference is beyond me.
Also I have a bunch of those black and white school journals and I hand-write thoughts and rough drafts and random bits of information in them almost daily. So, hey, I guess it’s okay if I take the Advil. The writing by hand will cancel it out.
Chris,
I love that your creativity, curiosity, sense of adventure and humor knows no bounds! Your brain is definitely firing on all cylinders. Thanks for sharing, my friend, and have an awesome week! 😊 Mona
I didn’t know about the PM medications and cognitive decline, but knew about writing longhand to up your cognitive abilities. I sometimes remember bits of my dreams, but not the plot of them. I figure all things in dreams have secret meanings, it’s my subconscious talking to me and it is a wily little trickster.
Ally,
You got that right — the subconscious can be a “wiley little trickster!” *giggle, snort* Have a great rest of your week, my friend!🙃 Mona
So interesting, Mona. I go through periods where I have really vivid, usually strange, dreams that I do remember. Most recently I dreamt that I was creating a YouTube video about Maria Shriver and then I went right into demonstrating how to make chocolate chip cookies. For the record, I am not currently making any YouTube videos, I know little to nothing about Maria Shriver, and I’m not particularly good at baking cookies (though I do on occasion indulge in that practice). So I really have no idea what that dream meant, but it made me laugh when I was recounting it to my daughter the next day. Also, I was inspired to make some chocolate chip cookies.
Christie,
That’s fabulous! I like where your dream took you! Ooh, now I want a cookie! Hugs, my friend! 🤩
Loved this post, Mona.
Well – I remember many of my dreams, but can’t say I’ve learned anything, per se. Some of these dreams have to do with places I have lived, especially when my Dad was alive and I was a young man. Somehow I’d dream I was in some of these places, but they were not quite right. Sometimes Dad would be there. It’s like the old saying about you can never go home again…
Sometimes I have dreams about doing drugs, but I never seem to get high – like, something usually goes wrong.
And – paper. Writing assignments aside, I try to write daily in Word – about anything – what I call freestyling. But once a week, I break out the old fountain pen and write in a bound journal. And I’m forever laying out my assignments on paper, like frameworks, etc.
Anyhow – hope all is well!
Roger,
All is well here and your dreams sound fascinating. I sometimes dream about a specific house that I once lived in as well. Then things turn odd. Same house, though; multiple dreams. 🙂 Mona
Hi Mona! If Advil causes cognitive issues, then I am doomed. I’ve got bad arthritis, and it’s rare for me not to have one in a day. It’s usually one or two. 😬 I may have to start eating grass or something herby like that. As far as dreams go, it’s like going to the IMAX every night for me. I’m a vivid dreamer, and, unfortunately, I remember most of them. The other night, I dreamed of crawling into a container to look for something and got my head stuck in a massive spider web. Then the spider, or so I thought, started fluttering on my head, and I was screaming for help cause it was super stuck, but it turned out to be a big-ass moth instead – slightly less disturbing, but not by much. I was trying to pull it off and then, thankfully, woke up. I was like, wtf? I don’t want to know what it means; it’s too weird for me. I won’t be crawling into any unexplored containers anytime soon, that’s for sure. I hope you are doing well! Big hug xo
Hey Tanya,
My understanding is that it’s the meds that are used as sleep aids with the PM after the brand name that puts you at a higher risk, not just plain Advil. So, I don’t think you have anything to worry about from taking a regular Advil here and there. Also, I’m so sorry to hear about your arthritis. Thank goodness for regular Advil, right? Wow, what an intense dream you had! 😳 Do you keep a dream journal? Creativity on that level should be documented! I find dreams to be fascinating if for no other reason than because they can be so weirdly trippy! Still, if you remember most of your dream adventures, I can only imagine that you wake up feeling exhausted much of the time! I know I do whenever I’ve had intense dreams. We’re all doing well around here. Thanks so much for asking! Hope you’re doing well, too! Have a wonderful week ahead and get some good rest! 😊 Hugs, my friend! Mona