Listening to my gut might have saved my life

I was driving down the highway a couple weeks ago when it was time for me to merge from the 2nd lane to the exit lane. I had a “weird” feeling inside but thought that it had to do with the annoying fact that I was stuck between the guy in front of me (who had just cut me off before he decided to drive slower than the speed limit) and the guy next to me, who was traveling at the exact speed as the guy in front of me. Gauging the differences between the cars around me and the speed of the general traffic, I decided it was best not to tailgate but rather slow down to get behind the car next to me so that I could get over.

 Well, I didn’t really decide not to tailgate. It was as if a voice had said in my ear, “Don’t tailgate.”

 I think I can say with good faith that I generally do not tailgate, because driving in the Bay Area has its crazy moments. My partner and I often talk about the fact that tailgating is a recipe for disaster when the traffic and drivers are so unpredictable.

In this moment, though, I had wanted to tailgate, because I was annoyed with the driver in front of me for cutting me off and then slowing down. That’s double rude, don’t you think?

But the voice was very stern in my ear. “Don’t tailgate.” Despite my annoyance, I slowed back and began to get over to the right. I have learned at this point of my life that “the voice” – that inner knowing, my intuition, or my “gut” – was protecting me, so I didn’t argue with it.

“Don’t tailgate,” the voice continued. I scanned the road in front of me, looking for any signs of trouble. Nothing, it was all good, but I kept my distance from the cars in front of me anyway as I made my way to the exit lane.

And then, as soon as I was in the exit lane, it happened. A 10 foot ladder came flying out of the pick-up truck in front of me. It bounced twice in the road before stopping in the middle of the lane. I swerved around another large piece of metal flying at me as I broke hard and then was able to get around the ladder, slowly, by driving in the shoulder.

My heart was pounding in my chest. I knew what could have happened if I hadn’t listened to that voice.

Had I ignored the voice and been tailgating that truck, or even keeping the recommended distance, that ladder would have struck my car or worse, it could have flown through my windshield and injured or killed me.

When things like this happen – when I get warnings or messages – I often attribute them to my guardian angel looking out for me. Some people might call it “intuition” or simply their “gut.”

While animals are often praised for their instincts and intuition, our culture of “science” doesn’t always give humans the same credit. When we tap into our inner voice, especially in health care, some people call it “woo woo” or “quackery” and don’t take it seriously.

When we shut that voice out, we do ourselves a disservice. There are times when getting out of our heads and feeling into the situation are going to serve us far better than any “data point” or “evidence” might. That voice is there for a reason!

Has there been a time when you listened to your angels, your gut, your inner voice, and it kept you or a loved one safe? I’d love it if you’d comment below to tell your story.

In my next blog, I’ll share you how listening to my intuition helped to protect my babies from their own potential brush with disaster.

Lots of love,

Jennifer