In a lot of my dreams I realize I’m just dreaming right when it gets good. A few nights ago I had a dream that my crush and I were talking, and right as he leaned over to kiss me I realized I was dreaming. Until that moment I was sure it was real. Same thing with a dream I had last night. I was sitting in a V.I.P lounge at MGM studios when Brad Pitt walked in. We talked and took pictures and had a lot of fun. Right as I was thinking about how I was going to tell all my friends, I realized I was dreaming. This happens a lot to me. Or I’ll know I’m dreaming right off the bat. Is it bad to have so many dreams like this? Are they better than dreams you think are real?

- Ashley, Age 14, FL, USA

Hi Ashley -

What you are experiencing are called “lucid dreams.” A lucid dream is a dream where you know that you are dreaming while you are dreaming. In your case - just as the dream gets “too good to be real”- some voice kicks in in your brain and tells you that it has to be a dream!

But just because you know “it’s all a dream” doesn’t mean the fun of dreaming disappears. To the contrary - I’m surprised you haven’t figured out some of the big advantages that lucid dreaming gives you. For example - you could lay a big wet kiss on Brad Pitt, and see how he responds to that. Hmmm.... Or maybe you could fly across the Atlantic Ocean to visit a friend in Europe, or travel to the Moon to watch the Earth from outer space, or maybe try to communicate with a best friend who you know is sleeping over at her house - tell her hello - and see if she remembers the next day at school.

Will you keep in touch with us - and let us know how your next dream adventures go?? We want all the details on you and Mr. Pitt - you lucky girl!