Hello everyone! Wow how a month flies by when you are having fun! An old saying that’s going to be eternally true. To catch you all up I went for a months holiday to America and Canada. It was a crazy whirlwind adventure! 14 flights all up and lots of adrenaline pumping fuel to get me through. I have no idea where it was coming from to be honest, I hardly ate a bite because of the excitement and nerves.

I guess that’s the most wonderful thing about adventures, you learn a new thing each day about the world around you and especially about yourself. To me this holiday was so much more than sight seeing. It gave me a chance to discover the strengths and weaknesses in myself. So yes in a nutshell; self discovery. I travelled with my good friend Luisa. This was both our first overseas Trip.

Actually our first holiday that did not have family around either. We left Melbourne, Australia and arrived in LA, California after 14 hours. We started in sunny hot LA then made our way across country to Charlotte, NC, NYC, Toronto, Las Vegas, San Francisco then stunning Hawaii. An incredible adventure it was! It also made me confront independently the things I had been yearning to experience.

Things like not having a career for when I was very unwell, having to motivate myself through the pain and fatigue, learning to interact with my friend and the people around me after many years of solitude. Multitasking in all areas and so much more! Sounds pretty much like a normal day in the life of a 20 something woman right? Well I’m not an average 20 something woman.

I have difficulties in areas of day to day life as any person living with an illness would know. These things were challenging but incredibly rewarding! It gave me a sense of accomplishment I have not had in many years. I realised for the first time I’m totally capable of living a life which demands total dependence on myself. It didn’t really start off in that encouraging light though..doubt clouded the air and cast a fog over the sun in my path.

Many people (yes many, word does travel fast in smaller towns) were rather forward in making their opinions known about my trip. I really do wish that people could remember what they are told when younger. “Keep your opinions to yourself” I had to hear a fair bit before hand, which of cause did not in the slightest worry me about my ability to travel. I knew the time was right and I was taking the dive prepared and focused.

That’s the main objective in casting your sails to the wind..focus. So as I said before I left, I wanted to share some tips, tricks, do and dont’s about Travelling with a chronic illness. Please note that these are my personal experiences only. We all have different views and abilities in our illnesses so please take these only as recommendations and always speak to your doctor, family and friends before making definite decisions about your health when travelling.

Before I start here, I was browsing through my notes and found a little something I wrote before I left! It was really interesting reading it. It gave me so much insight on how I have changed since and how even though doubt may seep through at times, it can never drown your determination.

“The Pressure and Pleasure ~ So its the 26th today and I leave for the United States with one of my great friends in 11 days! So my mind is ticking like a broken cookoo clock and my belly feels like I have a trapped enclosure of swinging monkey’s within it. If you don’t already know it’s my very first trip overseas.

In fact, this is the case for both of us! Going through all these feelings is strange! Maybe this is what it feels like before getting married or if you are expecting your baby to be born any day. I’m not sure if I like the mess of emotions! Right now I don’t. Then other times I do. I just go with the flow, even though I feel like a dead fish flowing in a rapid. I’m told to “enjoy” this time, to savour every moment. So I’m trying to.

Is this apart of the travel bug? Is this what people get addicted too? Just writing about it makes my stomach jump in my throat. I hope I don’t sound like I’m complaining because I’m not! I’m extremely excited! This has been a long time coming because I’ve had to wait for a stage of health to accomplish it.

I can also say I’m ready to venture out. I know, in the current trend of things, I’m starting very late in life with my travels. Most kids I know have already been to Europe!

I’ve occasionally been asked in general conversation about the places I have traveled to or planning to travel to. I proudly say that I have travelled to many places in Australia. Then they continue “you haven’t been overseas?”

They often pull the funniest face when I say no. Like a deer caught in headlights! Ha! A few have expressed without warning the absolute need to go overseas when I reveal my dirty little secret. They talk to me with pity. I just nod politely while I sing a tune in my head. I try to match the tune to the trumpet they are playing to me! Do I sound bitter? Oh no, I’m not at all! I’m simply aggravated.

This whole social pressure of traveling and adventuring and exploring the world gets a little tiresome for me. It’s like feeling the need to get a husband because it looks so romantic and what your friends have and you don’t. If you’re into it, do it, if not leave that’s ok to. I’m 26 and experiencing things now. I’m ready and doing it without pressure from others. I’m also at a stage in life when I can do it health wise. Excitement and nerves mesh well after all.”

How incredible it is that from one day to the next we can truly change an outlook of ours…if only we go out and see what other outlooks are!

Before the trip-

• Be open and honest with your traveling partner! If you are travelling with someone it’s always best to say what you need to about your health before you start your planning. Be honest about your limits and expectations. Ask them what they expect from you and your trip. You may decide that even though you are great friends you may not be great travelling partners. This should never erode on your bond however you may want to experience different things and you may not be in a position to do certain things and vice versa.Don’t over think! This was a huge problem for me. Night after night thinking about that empty suitcase and rearranging my clothes in my head. This made me sleepless and anxiety clouded my peace of mind which is so important when you already suffer from insomnia. So to satisfy my excitement and packing craving I did a little bit each night. This made it fun and enjoyable not stressful.

• Get a packing app! This is such a fantastic idea! The app breaks down all the sections of packing. From your toiletries to your clothes for different occasions. So much easier than a pad and pen as its sectioned and organised. You can also add your own items to the list. I really valued this little helper. I used “packing pro” from the Apple Store. Start your exercise!

  This made walking around New York City much less stressful on me. I would suggest you start exercising as soon as you can before you leave. I only did gentle walking. Don’t think you need to hit the gym and do 20 press ups each day. Just get moving and flexible before you head off on your adventure. It will help your trip be so much less tiring and you will be accustomed to the walking more. You will do a lot of walking!

• Research accommodation with quality room services! This may be a little odd to do but trust me it made perfect sense to me when travelling. At times I was simply too tired to move but needed something for dinner. Room service was wonderful as it meant I didn’t have to get out of the motel to eat. Also getting my washing a dry cleaning done was an little extra expense I was happy to pay. Room services are very valuable to you when you are unwell at times.

During the trip-

•  Allocate a rest day! Yes I understand that the excitement and adrenaline is pumping at high levels but you must allocate a day for a total rest. You will need to recharge your batteries so you face the week or days ahead. If you have a travelling partner make sure to explain this to them early in advance so that they can plan a day out doing what they might want to do. I took the Sunday’s off to rest. I could then enjoy a nice dinner out and be refreshed for the weeks activities.
• Take time to rest! I cannot say this enough to chronically ill travellers. Please get your rest during the day. I liked to stop every 1/2 hour. Pick a bench, go sit in the park or have a drink in the coffee shop. Stop to rest and recharge. Do some light stretching and relax.This is also a very lovely activity as you can watch the local scene, look at some beautiful scenery or just talk to your traveling partner about the day’s events. If your travelling partner wants to meet up with you or go on further let them! Do not expect them to do everything you do. The same goes for them. You may not be able to keep up and that’s ok! Long days sight seeing is a wonderful thing, but a rest is also a nice thing too.

•  Ask for help! Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. Yes you may have to tip a few dollars here and there extra but I really recommend this. Carrying bags and suitcases is extremely tiring for an unwell person. I made my body ache on numerous occasions because I wanted to save a few bucks. However I became miserable for the day and I didn’t enjoy much. So ask the bell boys for assistance and get those trolleys out at the airport. You don’t have to do it on your own.

After the trip-

• Take a good rest! For a month I didn’t make many if any plans. I took time to rest my body and mind. You don’t realise how much you did until you come back home and feel it. I did extremely well considering what I did in America for a month. I think it was due to the fact I didn’t overload myself when I came back home.
• Do it all again! This is all I can suggest! Save up your money and go for another adventure! Why not. You have proved to yourself and others you are capable of making it through some pretty extraordinary experiences. The world is vast and made to be seen, touched and used.

What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us.

And when you bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen.

Henry David Thoreau