Where are my people who can get lost even with a map? Even with step-by-step instructions? This is the story of my life. I am not a good tracker of time. I am not a good navigator. I cannot interpret maps. So, why did I think that I could plan a hike in California (across the country from where we reside)? I thought I could, so I did. This seemed like a great date idea for us. I planned for us to take what was described as a “moderate to strenuous” 3.3 mile hike that combined two hikes. It seemed simple enough. I did not communicate the directions well to my husband because I did not have them solid in my own mind. Even though I’m not a great navigator, this ended up still being a very fun experience. We can look back on this hike with fondness and laughter because we were able to communicate with each other with love and respect.

How to listen like you mean it. “You’re not listening! I keep trying to tell you… “ or “You aren’t hearing me. How many times do I have to tell you…?” Do those sound familiar? Have you been the one to exclaim those types of statements? Or, have you been on the receiving end of those? Or maybe both. And, why does this happen in the first place?