What My Dream Taught Me About Rest

Last night, I had one of those dreams that felt more like a story than just a series of images. It started with me heading to the mall, but an old churchmate from college picked me up and drove me there. Somehow, instead of entering the mall, I walked into a church inside the mall—something I didn’t plan, yet there I was. I felt uneasy and tried to escape, slipping into the crowd to avoid being noticed.

On the way out, I suddenly realized I was barefoot. My shoes were gone, and the escalators in front of me looked far too steep and dangerous. I hesitated, nervous about taking a step forward. Then, my bag went missing too. When I finally found it, the wallet was open and my 40,000 yen in cash had been stolen. I asked for help, but people passed me by, ignoring me as if I weren’t there. That’s when I panicked—and then, with a strange sense of awareness, I chose to wake up. I knew it was a dream, and I decided to leave it behind.

As I thought about it later, I realized how much the dream reflected my real life right now. My churchmate driving me felt like a reminder of how old influences sometimes steer me in directions I don’t want to go. The church inside the mall represented obligations showing up where I least expect them, interrupting my plans. Losing my shoes was like losing my confidence, and the dangerous escalators mirrored the fear of moving forward before I’m ready. The stolen money pointed straight to my worry about losing value or security, and the silence of the crowd reminded me of my fear that others won’t understand what I’m going through.

But the most important part was the ending. I realized I was dreaming, and I chose to wake up. That moment told me something powerful: even when I feel overwhelmed, I still have the awareness and the power to step away.

---

Right now, I’ve been torn between pushing myself back to work or giving myself more time to rest. This dream was like my subconscious spelling it out for me—rest isn’t weakness. It’s protection. It’s repair. Just as I lost my shoes and bag in the dream, when I skip rest in real life, I risk losing my grounding and energy. Taking time for myself is not about being lazy; it’s about making sure I can walk forward confidently again.

The lesson I’m carrying from this dream is simple but powerful:

I’m resting now not because I’m weak, but because I want to return stronger. My worth isn’t measured by one or two absences, but by the strength and dedication I’ll bring when I’m ready to face the steep escalators of life again.

---

A Note to Anyone Reading This:

If you’re feeling torn between your responsibilities and the need to rest, remember that giving yourself permission to pause doesn’t make you less capable. Rest is the foundation of resilience. Listen to your body, trust your awareness, and know that stepping back now will allow you to move forward with greater strength, clarity, and confidence. You are allowed to take care of yourself—always.