Last week, I had one of my worst nightmares come true.

I went hiking, and as I was getting out of the car, I had this feeling that something bad was going to happen. I ignored the feeling because I really wanted to hike. I needed to be out in nature, and I needed to exercise.

As I was hiking, I was being careful. I thought the feeling meant that maybe I was going to fall and hurt myself. So, I was being very careful where I stepped and was going slow.

Towards the end of my hike, I took the road down the mountain. There were more people on the road than the nature trail, so I figured I would be safer with more people around. That feeling that something bad was going to happen wasn’t going away, it was getting stronger.

I was about 5 minutes from the parking lot and being done with my hike, when one of my worst nightmares happened.

I looked down and about 5 feet from my feet, there was a small snake.

I almost broke my ankle trying to run away.

I don’t know how I didn’t see it before then and there were people that were in front of me that didn’t see it either.

I guess I looked so freaked out that a man asked what was wrong with me. I told him about the snake, and he said that they come out at this time of day to feed.

I have been hiking at this mountain for years, and never seen one before then.

To say I was scared was an understatement. I hate snakes.

He walked with me a little way, until I calmed down.

I just couldn’t believe that I was that close to a snake. Thankfully I didn’t get bitten.

I usually go hiking at that mountain twice a week. I was so scared to go back because of what happened, but I also wanted to hike.

I gave myself four days to process what happened.

Five days after the incident, I went back to the mountain and went hiking.

I didn’t have that feeling that something bad was going to happen. I was more vigilant about my surroundings. I even saw a deer this time. I was nervous but by the end of the hike, I was relaxed.

I never want a repeat of what happened that day. From now on when I hike, I’m going to be more vigilant.

If I ever have that feeling again, I will listen to it. I will go home and hike another day. Maybe use the elliptical machine that day.

I am glad that I didn’t let one of my worst nightmares, scare me away from hiking again. I love to go hiking.

At least I know that my intuition works, even if I didn’t listen to it.

Have you ever known something was going to happen and you didn’t listen to your intuition? Or maybe you did listen.

About 2 weeks ago, I was supposed to be flying to Italy.

Unfortunately, I got a text message around midnight the night before I was supposed to fly out, saying that my plans were cancelled.

I know that everything happens for a reason.

There is one good thing that came out of this situation.

My belly button piercing hasn’t been doing good at all lately. I developed an infection and then after that went away, a bump developed. It looked like my body was rejecting the piercing.

When I had the infection, the doctor said to take out the piercing. I didn’t do it because I wanted to keep my piercing. After the infection went away, the piercing was looking better until I wore some high waisted pants and it got really irritated.

The next day, a bump appeared. The skin started to shrink.

Two weeks ago, I had to take out the piercing because it looked like it was about to fall out on its own.

My plan was to go to a tattoo shop in Italy and see what could be done about the piercing. I don’t know how I was going to make it through the flight with my piercing still in. One good yank or if it got snagged on my clothing, the piercing was going to come out.

I went to a tattoo shop that was close to my parent’s house.

The tattoo artist looked at the piercing and said that it did need to come out. He made a plan for me and hopefully in 2 weeks I can get another belly button piercing. That all depends on what the old piercing site looks likes in 2 weeks.

I’m glad that I didn’t have to go to a tattoo shop in Italy. I had really wanted to go to one around my parent’s house. If I needed any medications, some of those medications may not have been available in Italy.

I found out the hard way, when I went to the United Kingdom that some medications that are over the counter in the United States, are not over the counter in the United Kingdom.

I’m just glad that I have a plan now on how to take care of my belly button piercing and hopefully will have another piercing in 2 weeks. This time I will follow all the aftercare instructions. I see what can happen when I don’t follow the instructions.

I do believe that everything happens for a reason. I also believed that I would make it to Greece next month.

I had already purchased a tour, and I didn’t cancel it.

I had been feeling a little bit stressed out because my company didn’t have any ships to put me on for the rest of the month. Thankfully I have a PRN job that I can pick up shifts at.

Yesterday I was playing Monopoly online and I was losing.

I had bought a lot of houses and hotels, but I had landed on chance and gotten the card that says you have to pay maintenance on your houses and hotels twice. I went from having over $4,000 to having a little over $400.

Then one roll changed it all.

My competitor landed on the space that had my hotel on it and from there on it was all downhill for my competitor. I ended up winning the game. Even though, I thought after I dropped down to $400, I was going to lose.

I had a thought after that, that my life can change for the better with one choice or decision.

Today, I got a call, and my company had a ship for me.

I’ll be going to Israel and Greece!!

I won’t have to cancel my tour. I just have to reschedule the date.

I’m thankful that I didn’t give up and stop asking my company for a spot.

Everything happens for a reason.