Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother’s house we go.
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
Through white and drifted snow.
It’s sounds idyllic. And cozy. And easy. Oh, how we long for easy.
Photo courtesy of Summit Cove.
Today, the reality of traveling means packed highways, long lines at security and delayed flights. By the time we show up to Grandmother’s house, we are tired, cranky and ready for an isolation tank.
1. Hydrate and avoid getting hungry!
It’s easy to feel crabby if we are dehydrated or hungry. And we can unintentionally take out our crabbiness on those we love (our poor family) or those we don’t (hello, TSA agent). We must take care of basic needs first. So make sure to drink water. You can bring an empty bottle with you if you are flying to fill up post security, or plan on regular pit stops if you are driving. And make sure to eat decent snacks (unhealthy options, though delicious, can add to our crabbiness). Bringing a bag of homemade trail mix will help word off hunger pains without needing another suitcase.
2. Bring earplugs or headphones.
It can be overwhelming to be packed in with people for hours at a time—and often it’s the noise that is the most intrusive. Muting the noise, or choosing the music, can allow for a bit of a reprieve, even in the middle of masses. Just make sure you keep an eye on your gate so as not to miss your flight (if you can’t hear the call).
Photo courtesy of LeanKit
3. Pack light.
It’s easy to think you need it all the night before you leave. You want to be comfortable and look good—of course you should pack it! But once you become responsible for hauling it around a busy airport or making 3 trips to pack the car, you realize how much of this you don’t need. So think smart, and light, when packing.
4. Travel on off-times.
If you are headed out on the road, or still need to book that flight, travel on off-times to avoid the busiest times. Traveling on the holiday, rather than the day or two before, often means less traffic and less cost.
5. Breathe.
The worst part of traveling is that we each can’t be in control. The person in front of you at security forgets to dump their water. Then they forget to remove their laptop from its case. Then they walk through with their pockets full of keys. It’s enough to rattle anyone, but there is nothing we can do. So if you remember nothing else, remember to breathe. Breathing can help relive tension, increase clarity and brings some much-needed oxygen to tired cells. It can totally change your perspective on your situation.
So as you head out to grandmother’s house, and long for the charm of the sleigh ride, just remember it probably took forever and was really, really cold. We’ve got it easy now!
About the Author:
Hollis lives in Seattle and is part of the New2Seattle community. She loves the Seattle for its easy access to mountains and water and local shops. She’s an interior designer who features independent shops regularly on her blog www.brikmortr.com.
