"Il avait l'impression que toute sa vie n'était qu'un rêve et il se demandait parfois à qui il appartenait et s'ils en profitaient."

Ever felt like life’s just one big dream? That’s basically what the quote’s getting at. Sometimes, it feels like we’re just going through the motions, almost as if this life might belong to someone else, and we’re just actors in a play. It’s a pretty deep thought, really—kind of makes you stop and wonder about the nature of reality and our place in it.

The idea here is that life can sometimes feel surreal, like it’s not entirely ours. This notion isn’t new. Think about the philosopher René Descartes and his famous line, “I think, therefore I am.” He was all about questioning reality and what we can truly know. And then there’s the movie “The Matrix,” where the protagonist, Neo, discovers his whole life has been a construct, a computer-generated dream. It’s a concept that’s been around for ages and keeps popping up because, well, it’s something we all feel at some point.

Imagine sitting at your desk in a nine-to-five job. You’ve got your coffee, your computer, and the never-ending pile of paperwork. You might find yourself zoning out, wondering, “Is this it? Is this my life?” You’re doing everything right—paying bills, keeping up with friends, maybe hitting the gym—but it still feels like you’re on autopilot. You’re living, sure, but are you really present?

Now, let’s get real with an example. Think of John, a 35-year-old accountant. He’s good at his job, even likes it most days, but he’s got this nagging feeling that something’s off. On weekends, he escapes into video games or binge-watching TV shows, dreaming of adventures he’s too scared to pursue. One day, he reads about a guy who quit his job to travel the world. It hits him—he’s been living someone else’s dream, not his own.

So, what do you do with this realization? First off, it’s about mindfulness. Start paying attention to what actually makes you happy, not just what you think should make you happy. Maybe it’s time to shake things up a bit. You don’t have to quit your job and buy a one-way ticket to Bali, but you can start small. Take a class in something you’re curious about, or volunteer for a cause you care about. The idea is to find pieces of your own dream and weave them into your everyday life.

Let’s go back to John. He doesn’t quit his job on a whim. Instead, he starts taking evening classes in photography, something he’s always been passionate about. He begins to see the world differently, through the lens of his camera, and it adds color to his otherwise monochrome days. He starts planning short trips to interesting places, capturing moments that speak to him. Over time, those small changes make a big difference. He feels more alive, more in tune with his own story, rather than feeling like a character in someone else’s.

So next time you feel like life’s just a dream you’re watching from the sidelines, take a step back. Think about what you can do, even if it’s just a little thing, to start living your own dream. Life’s too short to wonder if the person living it is enjoying it—make sure that person is you.