In the dream I was at the beach and seeing lots of people I haven’t seen in a very long time. It was like a gathering of everyone I knew in a social setting but we were all peers. I kept looking for someone but couldn’t find them or wasn’t able to talk to the person I saw from far away. There was also an element of me having done laundry and needing to air dry some pillows on the beach. The beach was more of a lake setting like at a camp. I ran into someone I don’t know but they were really nice and welcoming to me and getting me to tag along with them with everyone watching. We were swimming in the water too. Then I saw some girls I went to college with and liked. One of them is now pregnant in real life and was also in the dream. A big element of this dream was that I was wearing big dark sunglasses so people didn’t know who I was until I took them off like it was a surprise.
Dreams are often highly personal and can reflect your emotions, experiences, and subconscious thoughts. Here’s an interpretation based on the elements you've described:
Beach Setting: The beach often symbolizes a place of relaxation and reflection, as well as a blend of different emotions (the land and the water). A lake setting, especially one resembling a camp, suggests a longing for simpler times or childhood memories, perhaps indicating a desire for connection or nostalgia.
Gathering with Peers: Seeing people you haven't met in a long time can suggest a reconnection with your past or unresolved feelings. This gathering might represent your social desires or feelings of inclusivity, and the longing to reconnect with parts of your life or people that are significant to you.
Searching for Someone: This element could symbolize feelings of longing or missing someone from your life. It might reflect a desire for closure, connection, or communication that currently feels out of reach.
Laundry and Air Drying Pillows: Laundry and air-drying can symbolize the need to cleanse old thoughts or emotions, perhaps indicating that you're trying to clear your mind and refresh your emotional state. Pillows may represent comfort and rest, suggesting a desire for emotional support or a safe space where you can feel at ease.
Welcoming Stranger: Encountering someone new who is friendly can indicate openness to new experiences or relationships in your life. It may also reflect a part of yourself that you are rediscovering or a shift toward more positivity.
Swimming: Water often represents emotions; swimming might symbolize your ability to navigate through your feelings or a venture into deeper emotional waters. It also suggests playfulness, comfort, and a willingness to engage with others.
Seeing College Friends: The girls from college likely represent a part of your past that you reminisce about, along with feelings of camaraderie and shared experiences. The presence of one who is pregnant in real life may symbolize growth, change, or new beginnings, potentially reflecting your own feelings about transitions in life.
Big Dark Sunglasses: Wearing sunglasses can symbolize how you conceal your true self or emotions. Taking them off for a “surprise” could indicate a desire for your true self to be seen and acknowledged, or perhaps an unveiling of feelings that you have been hiding from others.
Overall, this dream seems to touch on themes of connection, nostalgia, self-discovery, and emotional expression. You may be in a phase of your life where you are reconciling past relationships, re-evaluating your identity, or seeking a deeper emotional engagement with the people in your life. Consider how these elements resonate with your current life experiences and feelings to gain further insight.