travel anxiety

this will be a quick post….but does anyone else have crippling, panic-induced travel anxiety? I toss and turn all night before a trip. did I pack my passport? (yes, trust me, I did. and at that point have probably already checked five times.) will I make it through security on time? it’s exhausting. sadly, however, not exhausting enough to help me sleep.

I have never (enter knocking on wood and throwing salt over my shoulder) forgotten anything so important that I still couldn’t enjoy the trip. so why the panic?

currently, I’m on an Amtrak train heading home after a glorious weekend at the Indies Invade Phillies romance author convention (read all about it here). leaving this morning, I had to navigate to the underground subway through locked doors, several annoying wanna-be thugs hogging the stairway without remorse, and more than one person who gave me garbage instead of directions.

but here I am. I made it, and it’s a gentle reminder to myself that I can do hard and scary things. like start a blog. or write a book. or start a new job. I managed to take the right subway train, get off on the correct stop, and get myself on to the next. were there hiccups along the way? absofuckinglutely. I added about 2k extra steps in. I walked all the way across the convention center we were in only to find the doors to where I wanted to go were locked. but I was able to pivot (PIVOT!! PIVOT!!! for my Friends fans), and I still succeeded.

will I be able to apply this annoying life lesson in the future when I’m stressed or worried I can’t do something? I’d like to think I can. I’ve never once forgotten my passport, wallet, or phone, but that hasn’t stopped me from stressing about it.

do you have any pre-travel rituals that help you cope? if so, please comment and share below!