Can you only have a lucid dream only if you were dreaming in the first place? I only infrequently dream - like once a month. When I do dream it's usually something really boring, like watching the water bucket (with a beach ball inside) in a well going up and down - and if I do realise I'm in a dream, I immediately wake, but paralysed for like half a minute... no chance to do any lucid dreaming. :(
I am feeling a lot of envy reading about everyone's experiences in lucid dreaming. :(
You dream every night (several times, actually) in REM, you just only remember it once a month. If you journal the times that you do remember your dreams, it could help you remember more. You can also still use the various tricks to "check" if you're dreaming and achieve lucidity in a dream that would have otherwise been forgotten
I am feeling a lot of envy reading about everyone's experiences in lucid dreaming. :(