I awoke from a dream about an old friend, whom I’ve neither seen nor spoken to for many years. I still harbor fond feelings for her, despite the long passage of time.

In my dream, I had made up my mind to reach out to her, only to learn (somehow) that she had died.  In my dream, this news saddened me greatly, and I told someone that I had had unfinished business with her.

In real life, however, I do not.  And thankfully, it appears she is alive and well.

Even so, I was vexed. Was my friend merely a dream stand-in for someone or something else?  If so, then whom or what?  And what was the nature of my unfinished business?

Of course, there can be myriad explanations for unfinished business we encounter in our dreams. If it is impossible to precisely identify the dream “business” with any degree of certainty, then you well may ask why even bother?  It’s a fair question.

Nonetheless, being human, I was required to ponder its meaning.  So, over coffee, I spent the next morning cataloging my past transgressions, my personal and professional failings, my unfulfilled ambitions, and the reality that I don’t have sufficient time left to make full amends, even if I dedicated myself to trying.  Instead, I resolved to continue trying to be my best self from day to day. With any luck, this effort will be sufficient to give my life meaning.