Journal of Dreams: A prologue

(My First blog Entry for 2021 about my dreams and a possible prologue of a dream examination series - Valred Olsim)

Growing up, I dream in my sleep a lot - the dreams are vivid, very real that they have profound effect in my waking life. Nevertheless, I learned to shrug them off because I thought that they are common experiences by people.

My view on dreams changed after my father died. After we buried him in Montanosa and we were about to drive home to La Trinity, I took an afternoon nap in his bed at their old family house. In my dream, he was assisting all of us in a convoy telling us that we can all go home, that it is now okay to go home. I was calling him to join us but he just stared at us. Then I woke up drenched in tears shouting “Papa!”. I dreamed of him frequently since then – the scenes were always about riding in a vehicle together, or touring around…the destinations were always unclear, hazy. Yet, these dreams have given me comfort in my grieving moments.

The experience made me value dreams better. Hence, I started paying more attention to what my dreams mean, not necessarily as indicators of the future or as a paranormal phenomena, but of how my subconscious work, or how my internal turmoil plays in my being. Perhaps, one of the example is the common dream of floating, or not arriving in a specific destination, which probably meant that I feel that my hopes of accomplishing my dreams are put on hold, or the feeling of unresolved goals. In recognizing these deep emotions, I can spot the source of my frustrations and stresses.

However, although I consider myself a logical person, I cannot help but be amazed on how dreams tend to serve as a warning to future happenings. For instance, prior to receiving the news of one of my life’s biggest failures, I already dreamed of being bitten by a snake. The fear it brought, and the huge feeling of loss actually happened. They say it is a difficult spiritual experience that we need to experience in order to grow. Whether it is a warning for an impending failure, or a subconscious scream of opening my eyes to my misguided confidence, dreams have become as much as a reality as my real waking life.

Last night, after a day that puts me in one of my career’s biggest challenge that involved being singled-out in a charge, I dreamed of joining (or being forced?) in a bicycle race. In my dream, I hesitated at first, telling the participants that I have not trained for the strenuous physical activity. Then, I went along with it for the experience, not expecting anything. Then, a steep hill climb which required carrying bicycles in a muddy uphill trail happened. With that, I somehow caught up with the rest of them who are more than 30 participants.

On my way to the top where I breezed through most of them for some reason, I was congratulated by faceless organizers telling me that I won 7th place. Although I didn’t win the top three ranks, I felt that I won because compared to them, I was just an occasional biker where they are real racers (Plus, the number 7 which is my favorite number, is a symbol of triumph). As a bonus, the dream showed that people paid attention to me and expressed their fondness of me. Number 7 also meant that one has spiritually matured after a long span of learning cycle.  

Whether this dream is a reflection or message of what is in store for me, or an expression of my confidence of my life quote that “whatever happens, we will not only survive but we will win”, I will take this dream anytime especially in our preset challenging situations.

A dream can become reality, and reality can become a dream...

BACK TO WORK

Aside from absorbing some mounting collections of letters and codes, the six month sabbatical I had also re-educated me about life’s lessons that I sometimes overlook. Indeed we are all eternal students of this life.

I am back for work, and I thank my workmates for holding my designated fort. Salamat talaga kakadwa! Even though the La Trinidad-LGU is naturally modest, the 2017 year just as the past years, is their year of awards and rewards. La Trinidad is again a recipient of the “Seal of Good Local Governance Award” which proves that the LGU has a passing mark in financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, and peace and order, and also in the essential areas of business friendliness, tourism, culture and the arts, and environmental protection. La Trinidad was also awarded with the best Cooperative Office in the country, the Red Orchid award for No Smoking implementation, the National Gawad Kalasag for our Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and various awards and citation on the Regional and Provincial levels for Solid Waste Management, Agriculture, and many other areas. It is good to be back to our service-oriented agency.

Despite the challenges of our everyday, we are still the lucky ones who live to work (not work to live) –this entails the presence of “purpose” which is the very core of a meaningful existence. This also means that we will spend more than half of our lives with work and workmates more than our personal interests and loved ones. Hence, our 8-5 or 40 hours of weekly work (not including regular overtimes) compared to only 30 hours weekly awake time for family, should be at least comforting and meaningful. Lest we want to live the tragedy of being immersed with 8 hours of conflict and negativity every day, we have to try our best to encourage a healthy and supportive working environment for all of us lowly workers.

As a laborer for the past ten years in different institutions, I hope to humbly share three tips on how to effectively work with workmates: 1. Speak kindly, 2.) Be Organized and, 3.) Smile, always.

As they say “it is not what you say, but how you say it”. Workers do not mind doing extra work if they are tasked respectfully and considering the basic human dignity. I am not really a judgmental person, but I do judge people according to how they treat the smaller people; the janitor, the security guard, or the lowly salary–grade 1 to 5 employees. The power-trippers, or the people who only respect power but treat the rank and file like disposable slaves, unfortunately arouses gossips, politicking, and needless stress and contempt in the work place. As a reminder for the lucky junior and senior officers (even the heads), kind words uplift the lower rank employees and build an environment of trust and positivity.

When I was younger (and as an artist and rock & roller), I worked with chaos and recklessness. Despite surviving for some time, there were couple of times that such care-free outlook cost me important ventures. Some workmates advised me to learn the skill of management and organization. This will prevent blame-games and confusion at work because all the levels of tasking and specialized delegations will be covered for efficiency. I am still learning those skills.

Smile. Energy, as they say is contagious. When you enter work with the look of depression, your co-workers and even clients will have the tendency to spend the day with the same drive and perspective. Smiling is the most inexpensive and the simplest way to encourage a lively and healthier working environment. As doctors remind us; Smiling contributes to the success of our work, our health, well-being, and happiness! Smile at work everyone!