By Lindsey

If you know Kelsey and I well, you know we like to travel. We actually make for really great travel companions. We we both believe that after a tiring day of cultural attractions, one should get dinner to go and eat in hotel beds whilst wearing jammies. (I know you’re excited about our future travel posts.)

Anyway, we sisters share another travel tendency: we both fear flying. By fear, I mean almost panic-attack inducing, stomach jumping, seat-neighbor asking if you’re okay kind of scared. For me, I hate take-offs and landings. Once I’m in the air (assuming that air is smooth as silk), I like to see the tiny houses and colorful patterns of farmland far below. For Kelsey, it’s the opposite. She feels trapped while on the flight and loves watching the plane inch closer and closer to the ground. Maybe we both like control. Maybe we haven’t flown enough. Maybe everyone is born with fears, and this is our shared space in which we try not to barf and cry.

Some of you may be thinking, “What wimps! I love to fly!” Well, for those of you who lack natural empathy and call names, this Buzzfeed post should give you a little insight into the terror we experience.

Why am I posting this now, you might wonder? Well, this Friday I’m flying for the first time in almost a year. I’ve been trying to mentally prepare. This means I:

1. Don’t watch the news. Unsurprisingly, disasters make me even more nervous.
2. Download great podcasts. My current favorites are Slumber Party with Alie and Georgia, Welcome to Night Vale and Radiolab.
3. Wear comfy clothes. I have a giant cardigan picked out already.
4. Have plenty of reading material on hand. I read magazines during take-offs and landings, Kindle books the rest of the flight. I’m just going to air my shame and say this: I downloaded the Fifty Shades of Gray Trilogy to keep me busy. There’s nothing like poorly written sexy books to keep the mind off crashing! (I also downloaded this book and this book to make up for that choice…maybe.)
5. Keep a prescription anxiety pill in my purse just in case. I’ve never actually had to take an emergency pill, but knowing it’s there makes me feel better, like a tiny, chemical security blanket.

For those of you who also hate high-speed trips through the air, I thought I’d share some more resources from around the web.

• “Are you scared of flying?” – tips to calm down from A Cup of Jo
• Air Travel Necessities – pins from Design*Sponge
• 10 tips for the fearful flyer – list from NBC

Any other tips for me? Wish me luck.