I decided to spend the day hiking in the woods, even though the humidex registered 100 degrees F with possible thunderstorms in the forecast.

A small group of us made for an enjoyable outing in spite of mosquitoes and deerflies. 

It was good for me to be with others on this day. 

The 8 mile trek seemed like what would be 12 in cooler temperatures, and the thunder, though close, only sent a warm rain, not lightning, at the end of the trail.

Afterward, washing away what the heavens did not felt soothing.

There were no tears to mix with raindrops and showerspray this day as in past months.

The prior week had used all of my soul’s anguish, and even now as I recall those feelings my eyes brim.

They do not overflow, which tells me healing is replacing grief one day at a time.

As if on cue, my Mom’s Christmas cactus sitting on her desk is blooming, signalling renewal even as fall approaches.

Other than the obvious gear, ranging from the best hiking boot to suit my foot, comfortable pants with pockets, to moisture wicking shirts, breathable waterproof or water repellent outerwear, and the type of hat or none at all, there are a myriad of choices before me.

Which hike to traverse on which day with which group is not an easy decision.

There are factors such as distance and pace, type of terrain, and mode of transportation to get to the trail that influence me.

The weather is another variable that is somewhat unpredictable.

Some hikes require prior registration and others do not, and are available on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

As I prefer to hike with others, at least one other person, my choices are more limited on certain days compared to others.

More recently, I have been looking at hiking GPS devices, along with pocket knives and other paraphernalia.

I am not electronically savvy, and have as yet not found a suitable GPS I care to purchase, along with maps to be uploaded, etc. etc.

I had no idea there is such a variety of compasses on the market.  The small, easy-to-read ones, are not the most reliable I understand.   

As a Canadian, no matter where I hike in this vast country, a gun is not an option, and I am not a hunter, therefore no licence is available to me. 

Bears are curious creatures I am told, and I would not want to peak their interest by creating noise i.e. bear bell, other than human sounds which hopefully are a deterrent to them.  Another valid reason to hike with other people.

There are some decisions I have made that are good ones for me. 

My lightweight, retractable trekking poles provide me with stability on all types of terrain, along with a great cardio, arm, and total body workout when I breathe correctly as I hike.  The speed I am able to attain when using them at times amazes me, and some others I am told.

In spite of all of these decisions, and being a Libran I do try to weigh pros and cons carefully, I much prefer choosing a ‘spontaneous’ hike to a ‘planned’ one.

Whatever trek strikes my fancy at the moment is the one I will enjoy the most. 

After all, it is the journey that creates the adventure before reaching the ultimate destination.

Cracks in sidewalks, ladders, and black cats are among the more popular ones named in rhymes. 

Who wants to tempt fate by stepping on a crack which could cause one’s mother’s back to break,  or have an accident occur by walking under a ladder.  And who looks for a black cat’s path to cross, especially on this particular day.

Now I can definitely see a problem that could occur should one cross paths with a black panther on the trail!

However, people who were born on the thirteenth, especially those who entered this world on a Friday, have nothing to fear, and in fact might consider this to be a very fortunate day.  Lucky you!  And Happy Birthday!

Most people learned a few superstitions as children that they might still carry with them into adulthood. 

Friday the thirteenth might be the purr…fect day to test their validity, if you dare!

Leaning forward with open arms and uncrossed legs expresses interest in what the other has to say.  It also shows openness to listening.

Checking out what one hears, versus what the other person said, is important, as the feedback given can provide the opportunity to correct any miscommunication.

Assumption-making is poor communication leading to misinterpretation, as one tends to believe what one ‘wants’ to hear if the message has not been clear and confirmed as being interpreted the way it is intended.

This may sound like a lot of work, and just like any new skill, it takes practice before it becomes more natural, and hopefully ‘second nature’ as time passes.

When speaking to the other, especially if the issue is to request one’s partner to change some behaviour, it is important to begin the conversation with ‘I’ as opposed to ‘you’, showing ownership, not criticism, of the situation or person.  Or to tell the other person, “When you do … I feel … “, which also imparts taking responsibility for one’s own feelings as opposed to laying blame.

Following the above advice can greatly decrease the likelihood of a defensive reaction to what is said, and increase the probability of the partner’s understanding of the other’s perspective.

‘How’, or the way it is imparted, not just ‘what’ is said, can determine whether or not the other person will be willing to not only listen but respond appropriately.

Voice intonation and volume, facial expression, gestures and body posture, all combined with words, form ‘face-to-face’ communication, which is the best type of relating.

Written communication such as email, text messages, instant messaging and letter writing, all lend themselves more easily to misinterpretation, as there is little or no opportunity for immediate feedback to determine that the message sent is the one received. 

Non-verbal communication, which most experts will agree comprises the greatest percentage of relating, is lacking when the written word is relaying the message.

Telephone conversation and live-stream video conferencing, by providing more of an opportunity for feedback than the written word, can lead to improved clarity in two-way communication.

Of course, when relating to the opposite sex, there are male/female differences which come into play. 

Men and women generally ‘think’ differently, and therefore it becomes even more important to ‘check out’ what is ‘intended or meant’ with what is actually ‘said’, to ensure the correct message has been received.

There are personality styles that also determine how successful communication will be in each relationship.

Assertiveness versus passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive behaviours has a better chance for success.

Communication as a topic has only been ‘touched’ here. 

Hopefully, those interested will investigate further, and perhaps take a course to learn and improve relating to other individuals, especially to one’s significant other.

The benefits of clear, warm communication with each other far outweigh the effort involved.