It was a dream, or was it real?
A couple of weeks ago I dreamt I was in a boat in the ocean, and I could see a dock ahead of me. The dock appeared out of nowhere. Sometimes you remember a dream more by the emotion it brings up than the details of the dream. That is what happened to me after I woke up. I vaguely remembered the image of the dock, but even more, I remembered the great feeling of peacefulness it brought.
Intrigued by the dream, I began to do a bit of research to find out what the symbolic meaning was for a dock.
A dock symbolizes a transitional space between the known (land) and the unknown (water). It represents a point of departure, arrival, safety, and stability. It signifies a place for reflection, emotional grounding, and the conclusion or the beginning of a journey, offering a secure harbor after being adrift.
Coincidentally, before the dream, I had been thinking lately about how I want to be in these chaotic, anxious, and unpredictable times that would be the most useful to others.
I have come to the conclusion that I would like to be like a dock, a sturdy, weathered, solid, and stable place for people to come to. That doesn’t mean I don’t and won’t have my own unsteady and confused times, but it means I, too, have to have a safe, stable, and secure place to return to that grounds me as well.
I would like to be like a dock, a sturdy, weathered, solid, and stable place for people to come to.
I know how important it is to “put your own oxygen mask on first”. This phrase originated from airline safety instructions. It signifies that you cannot effectively care for anyone else if you are depleted or incapacitated. This phrase urges people to prioritize their own well-being physically, mentally, and emotionally before assisting others. I have learned, many times the hard way, that this is true. I need to bring safety, stability, hope, reflection, connection to family, friends, and community into my own life in order to be able to be of support to others. If I do that, I can be the “dock” I want to be.
While success is defined individually, the one thing that seems universally true is that making the most of life requires us to be of service to others. When we do, paradoxically, we become stronger, braver, and more able to give.. But first, the oxygen goes on our own face.
Reflection: A dock is meant for loading, unloading, repairing and then being off again.
Today’s Practice: How can I create a safe place within me to be able to give to others?