1 - Sober Travel Kit When my kids were little I had a whole bag of goodies to keep them entertained on plane rides. One by one I would pull out surprises. A Root Beer sucker, a coloring book, a new stuffed animal. I would pull my magic out of my hat at strategic intervals to keep my children occupied for the duration of the trip. As an adult sober traveler, you can create the same for yourself. My personal alcohol free travel kit includes something for all the senses. Something to smell (lavender essential oil). Something to taste (Cheez Its, Swedish fish, bedtime tea from home, and pumpkin seeds). Something to touch (a neck pillow, silky eye mask, hydrating face mist, and cashmere pashmina). Something to see (adult coloring books, the daily Wordle, a great fiction book, a movie). Something to hear (my badass playlist and a relaxing meditation). What can you load up and look forward to pulling out for reward and surprises to enjoy on your flight? Get yourself a sober travel kit.
Sober milestones can come in many forms. A huge accomplishment for many of my clients’ is flying sober. I mean literally flying. Like in an airplane. It takes some resolve to successfully accomplish this feat, as the airport is full of opportunities to drink. There are actual liquor bottles sized specifically for the occasion of flying. Airports resemble Vegas in that it never sleeps, there’s changing time zones, and you’re neither here nor there. It’s never day or night. An airport is some sort of ether world. A perpetual party, never ending vacation take off, networking extravaganza, mini city of strangers, with endless options for drinking without shame and stigma. The airport can be a lonely place of goodbyes and happy bartenders are waiting to greet you at every corner. There is a person willing to lend a hand, a shoulder, and a soothing brew to jump ship on your uncomfortable emotions. Airport bars are open and available at all hours. Travelers are bellied up to the bar all times of day and night. It is after all… wine o clock somewhere. Who are we to judge? When you add in the nerves associated with flying, including fear of death, alcohol becomes an ineffective but quick fix for anxiety. The stress of going through security can be lulled with a nip. There is also the stress of getting to the airport, which starts the night before with panic and a double/triple check that you have your alarm set. You start your travel day off with a bang. An alarming cortisol spike, unsure of when you’ll be able to calm down. A cold glass of depressant seems like an appropriate way to balance it all out. You might be going somewhere new and leaving the comforts of home. The anticipation and fear of the unknown can be a lot to take. Do you have the right app for your tickets? The right documents? Directions? The address of where you are going? You probably forgot something really important. Toothpaste. A phone charger. Your sandals. Is your suitcase too heavy? Does it fit? Are things going as planned? For whatever reason, or any and all of these reasons, you may have used alcohol as the ultimate crutch to help you stumble through the challenges of air travel. Perhaps you even created drinking traditions. The airport pub where you get a spicy Bloody Mary to signify vacation has started, and also to calm your nerves. You have equated alcohol with the fun of getting away and you’re afraid without alcohol, there will be no fun. SOBRIETY IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE BEST ADVENTURE OF MY LIFE. To get you on the joy path, you first need to make it through the airport, alcohol free. You need to arrive at your destination with the same clarity, health, confidence, and sobriety that you left with. Here’s a few tips to help.
HOLA SOBER | MADRID
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