| For parents raising young children and babies, | | | | felt safe, warm and happy on the beach as a kid, |
| there is often the feeling of being trapped and | | | | and so this became my visual happy place as an |
| imprisoned in their own homes waiting for the | | | | adult as well as my passport to happy airplane |
| time when the kids are old enough to actually go | | | | travel around the world. When ever I feel fear, or |
| somewhere. Thoughts of how difficult the journey | | | | pain (like when I am giving birth), I travel back into |
| might be, coupled with the estimated expenses | | | | my visual happy place at the beach, and I am |
| cause most parents to wait until later in life to | | | | able to calm the fears and actually enjoy the |
| take a trip with the whole family. There are also | | | | experience without any medication. |
| times in life when travel may not fit into your | | | | Now we are expecting our 4th child, and |
| schedule, like when you are close to your due | | | | considering the fact that I deliver so quickly (my |
| date, etc. | | | | 3rd child was born in 45 minutes!) it is not a good |
| In my youth I was fortunate to be able to travel | | | | idea for me to travel too far from home until |
| internationally due to my modeling/commercial | | | | after the delivery. I have therefore turned my |
| acting career. My start was a bit bumpy due to a | | | | house into a hotel. It's a funny thing, but after |
| bad experience and I realized that I would need | | | | traveling for most of my life, there are certain |
| to seek some professional assistance. I had a | | | | aspects about hotel rooms that I just love. I |
| debilitating fear of flying when I was younger due | | | | decided to incorporate those aspects into my |
| to personally witnessing a horrendous airplane | | | | own home. We now have breakfast - Marriott |
| crash when I was a child. I would clamp up, | | | | buffet style. My bathrooms have been decorated |
| struggle to breath, suffer from hot flashes, cold | | | | to match 5 star hotels, and include a plush carpet, |
| sweats, experience stomach problems, diarrhea, | | | | and all the details that make hotel stay so much |
| and even break out in hives days before my | | | | fun. Our linens are actually purchased from hotel |
| flight from my subconscious fear of experiencing | | | | supplier web sites and have that lovely crisp, |
| the same fate. | | | | fresh white hotel feel to them. I have literally |
| I found a wonderful doctor who specialized in | | | | brought the hotel experience home. |
| hypnosis therapy back in the 80's when I was | | | | Once our 4th child is born this December, we are |
| first beginning to travel long distances to far off | | | | thinking of traveling to Ireland next year. I |
| lands. I will never forget his method that worked | | | | understand there are rugged cottages and even |
| so well, I continue to use it today. This doctor | | | | barn haylofts that a family can rent for the week. |
| taught me to relax, breath, close my eyes and | | | | Since we now live in our hotel style house, we |
| visualize a happy place. | | | | are excited about staying somewhere different, |
| My happy place was on the beach where I grew | | | | like an Abby in a castle, or cottage on the beach. |
| up as a kid. The sand was white, the waves | | | | Traveling is and should be fun. I am so grateful to |
| gently rolling in, and the breeze was soft with the | | | | have overcome my fear of flying so that I can |
| fragrant smell of the salty sea. I could hear the | | | | continue to travel near and far while sharing the |
| sounds of seagulls making their laughing noises, | | | | world with my family. Find your happy place and |
| and even feel the warmth of the sun on my skin | | | | come along! |
| as the sun rays danced on the water. I always | | | | |