I dreamed I was working at a restaurant. This is a recurring dream. In real life I used to be a server and bartender. Now I have recurring dream that I’m working in a restaurant again, and I’ve either forgotten I work there and keep missing shifts, or I get to work, but don’t know any of the table numbers and feel like I should so I’m too embarrassed to ask, or I haven’t worked there in a long time but for some reason I’m still on the schedule but I haven’t been trained again, so I don’t know the menu or anything. Coworkers and managers still seem to really like me. Well, last night, I dreamed I was working in a restaurant again serving tables. The manager asked me to be a bartender and help out with the other bartender. That bartender was really good and very nice. I helped but he was much better. I took dishes back to the sink and cleaned to help him. At the end of the shift, I told him that I used the be a bartender and was one of the best. This is true in real life. I said that I just wasn’t interested in bartending or working at a restaurant anymore, so my heart just wasn’t in it. This is also true in real life. In real life, I think this applies to more than just bartending. I’m ready to really do something I care about instead of just taking any job to pay the bills. So I finished up helping him clean and close down the bar. It was time to go home. I asked a police officer if he’d mind walking me home since it was dark outside. This was something people could do. He walked me down a ally and a street. My home was my grandmother’s house when she was alive. It’s the only home I’ve ever known in real life, but it’s not there anymore. I lived there in the dream. We got there and the police officer left me to cross the street and go in my home. But before I could several people jumped out and was trying to attack me. I thought why didn’t I have the police officer walk across the street with me and stay until I got in my home. It’s like we both assumes I’d be okay from there, across the street. I finally got inside away from the attackers. Then I woke up.
Dreams about returning to a familiar setting from your past, such as a restaurant where you used to work, often symbolize unresolved feelings or reflections on your current life. Given that this is a recurring dream for you, it highlights themes that are particularly significant in your life.
Return to Familiarity: Working in the restaurant may signify your past experiences and skills; it’s a place that holds memories and possibly emotions tied to your identity. It suggests that you are reconciling who you were and what you did, perhaps reflecting on your work history and the skills you've developed.
Feelings of Inadequacy: The recurring themes of forgetting shifts, not knowing table numbers, and being unprepared indicate feelings of anxiety or vulnerability about being perceived as competent in new or familiar situations. This could symbolize your current feelings about readiness or confidence in your life choices or career aspirations. You may feel that you are transitioning into new endeavors and worry that you won’t be able to meet expectations.
Desire for Purpose: You mentioned that in real life you're looking for work that truly resonates with you, rather than just anything to pay the bills. This transition in your life is reflected in the dream where you acknowledge your past success as a bartender but also express a lack of interest in that kind of work now. This suggests a desire to find or pursue something that you are truly passionate about.
Support and Protection: The moment with the police officer offers a sense of security. His presence was comforting, suggesting that you seek guidance and protection in your waking life as you navigate change. However, his departure just before you faced danger represents the fear of being left unprotected or unsupported when faced with challenges ahead.
Confronting Fears: The attack at the end of the dream can represent internal fears or external pressures you might be feeling in waking life. It symbolizes anxiety about venturing into the unknown, especially as you strive for a new purpose or direction. The fact that you were able to get inside your “home” may illustrate your resilience and ability to find safety or comfort within yourself despite external chaos.
In summary, this dream reflects feelings connected to your past experiences, your aspirations for the future, and the challenges you face during this transition. It's a reminder to seek supportive relationships and to confront the fears and doubts that may be holding you back as you strive for a fulfilling path.