Notes to Readers:

That old gut feeling has literally saved my life more than once or at least got me out of a situation that would be difficult and inconvenient.

Hiking alone has tuned my consciousness to feelings of uneasiness. Fortunately, I’ve never been threatened by a bear or cougar or even people. I did meet a bear in the woods. It was a half-grown cub and we startled each other when I rounded a high bush on a narrow trail. It looked at me shyly then backed away and disappeared. I made some noise so Momma would hear me, but nothing showed up.

Another time I was with a group of people heading for a day hike near the Hood Canal. It was March. I had already taken off my snow tires as it was late in the season for any possible skiing. However the weather in the Pacific NW can surprise you. It was snowing and we were driving on a Forest Service road, without guard rails. The snow was coming down fast and piling up. I became aware of my stomach tightening, warning me of danger. Some of the other drivers had Subarus, a vehicle that is more reliable in difficult conditions than my own rear wheel drive Toyota Corolla. I announced to my two riders that I was going to turn around and so I did, heading down the mountain. Shortly the other two cars showed up behind mine and we reconvened at the nearby Ranger Station. It was decided to visit a nearby beach instead of climbing into the snowy weather. I later found out the parking area at the trailhead was down a steep dirt road. I probably would have never gotten my car out without the assistance of a tow truck, an expensive proposition.

There have been many instances when I decided not to continue a relationship based on how my body felt around them. My decisions were met with shock, disbelief, and sometimes regret, but I stuck to them. It’s difficult to articulate such a decision process to someone who isn’t in touch with their intuition and common sense.

Anyway, I thought I would share a little of how I learned to tune into that “gut feeling” and to use it despite whatever anyone else thinks. “Sticking to your guns” is a Western expression for standing by your decision despite whether it meets with anyone else’s acceptance. It takes courage, inner strength, and knowing yourself.

BTW, posts are late today as I had laundry day, an appointment at the hospital, then went for a 3-mile walk, and to the grocery store… Busy.

There’s lots going on right now, but you’ll have to rely on other sources besides my own modest blog. For example, there are 600K unopened indictments that are about to get acted upon. A single indictment can carry several names. The rest of the year is going to be “interesting”.

Breathe, folks…

Eliza