I was at a tennis tournament going against someone who I used to play tennis with. Mid- match I wasn't playing well so I walked away to a locker I had and opened my bag to put five dollars in the vending machine. Before I got my coke zero, it started spitting out my change, but it was dollar bills. They were all soaked and the change tray was filled with water, but I started to notice that it was a large amount of money. Several thousands worth. I put all the wet money in my bag with one random witness and immediately started plotting to keep it safe. On the way to do so I ran into my opponent and told her something really good happened and I needed to go. She asked why and I gave some speech about people who try to take away good things that happen are the worst people. I walked away, but a couple of rooms later my bag felt really light, when I looked the entire back where I kept the money was off. I ran back go the janitor and along with that girl they were both just looking at the back half on the floor. I told them it was mine and I said I had just dropped it because I noticed my bag was lighter immediately. The janitor said "yeah, it was just from 9 to 9:02" and then I woke up. It may be relevant that I had a crush on my rival tennis player and she said she did with me and after a few months of trying to be in a relationship with her it ended. I haven't seen her in months because she moved to another state.
In your dream, the elements of a tennis tournament, your feelings towards your opponent, the unexpected money, and the subsequent loss of it weave together a rich tapestry of emotions, relationships, and personal growth. Let’s break down the key components of your dream to gain a clearer understanding of its potential meanings.
Tennis Tournament & Rivalry: Tennis often symbolizes competition, challenges, and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Your opponent, who you have a history with, represents not just rivalry but also the complexity of your feelings towards her. This might indicate that you are currently navigating unresolved feelings about your past interactions and the potential for a relationship. The tournament setting suggests that you are in a phase of your life where you feel you are being tested, either through your personal ambitions or in emotional contexts.
Walking Away and Seeking Escape: When you chose to walk away from the match due to not performing well, it reflects moments of self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy in your current life. Walking away symbolizes a need for a break or a pause to reflect on your circumstances, indicating that you may be feeling overwhelmed or pressured by certain expectations (either self-imposed or societal).
Vending Machine and Money: The vending machine can be seen as a symbol of seeking rewards or satisfaction for your efforts. In this case, the incident with the unexpected and soaked cash may represent the uncertainty and unpredictability of your life’s rewards. It implies that despite striving for something (like a relationship or success), the outcome may be messy or not what you expected. The thousands in money also indicates a sense of abundance or potential that you feel is within reach but may be complicated or difficult to manage (as represented by the water damage).
Plotting to Keep the Money Safe: This part of the dream reveals your instinct to protect what you value. It could point to your anxieties over losing something precious, whether that be your feelings for your rival, your self-worth, or even opportunities that are presented to you. Your need to safeguard this money may reflect a desire to hold onto your dreams, aspirations, and the good things that you feel may be threatened.
Interaction with the Rival: Telling your rival that something good happened, implies a conflicted mix of emotions. Perhaps you're trying to maintain some bond or connection despite the competitive dynamic. Your remark about "people who try to take away good things" might reflect a realization of the importance of safeguarding your happiness against negative influences, which could be a reaction to the end of your relationship.
Loss of the Money and the Janitor’s Comment: The feeling of lightness in your bag and the subsequent discovery that it was empty suggests you may fear losing something valuable—whether it's opportunities, connections, or self-confidence. The janitor's comment about the time frame "from 9 to 9:02" could signify that you feel your chance at something has been fleeting, emphasizing the idea of time as a crucial element in your situation. It may also signify a feeling of being judged or misunderstood in your care for your aspirations and emotional attachments.
In summary, this dream reflects a mixture of competition, unresolved feelings for your rival, anxiety about loss or inadequacy, and the quest for security in your desires. It highlights your struggles to maintain autonomy and happiness in the context of past relationships and self-expectations. Engaging in self-reflection regarding these themes can help you navigate your emotions and determine the direction you wish to take in your life moving forward.