Dreams Of: Desire
At its core, desire is a lack—a recognition that something is missing. When we dream of desire, we are essentially rehearsing a different version of reality. This isn’t merely daydreaming; it is a vital survival mechanism. From the explorer dreaming of a horizon they haven't seen to the artist desiring a color they haven't yet mixed, these dreams bridge the gap between biological necessity and cultural evolution. The Double-Edged Sword
We see this in the modern digital age, where social media serves as a curated gallery of "desire-dreams." We are constantly invited to desire the lives of others, turning our internal aspirations into a competitive sport. When desire becomes untethered from our actual values, our dreams become a source of anxiety rather than inspiration. The Redemptive Power of Longing Dreams of Desire
However, there is a haunting quality to "Dreams of Desire." The French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan argued that desire is never truly satisfied; once we obtain the object of our longing, the desire simply shifts to something else. In this light, our dreams are not destinations, but a treadmill. At its core, desire is a lack—a recognition
Yet, to live without desire is to exist in a state of stagnation. The most "interesting" dreams of desire are those that push us toward self-transcendence. These are the longings that require us to grow, to learn, and to sacrifice. They are the dreams that whisper that we are capable of more than our current circumstances suggest. From the explorer dreaming of a horizon they

In September 2022 SmokeLong launched a workshop environment/community christened SmokeLong Fitness. This community workshop is happening right now on our dedicated workshop site. If you choose to join us, you will work in a small group of around 15-20 participants to give and receive feedback on flash narratives—one new writing task each week.