Public transportation is torture, I hate it more than anything. I can’t cope with being on a bus or train. I find that my anxiety grows when I start to think about using the bus, for example; How many people will be on board? Will it be on time? What if someone tries to sit next to me? Etc. My head just doesn’t seem to stop overthinking, and 90% of the time I won’t leave the house.
Now I am lucky with where we live, as there’s a bus every 10 minutes, so most of the time they are nice and empty. There have been times when the bus has pulled up and I’ve had a panic attack and didn’t get on. Now if I’m with a friend and we’re talking, I won’t even think about the journey. Yet when it comes to flying, I find that I’m totally relaxed, and I’ve been trying to work out why.
The thought of flying excites me. I’m like a child when I see the plane; forget that, I’ll like a child when I see the airport. I don’t like crowds; I hate standing in lines, and yet when I’m in the airport, I don’t care. Waiting at security is fun, and yes, I know I sound crazy, but when you think about it security is final step before your holidays start. Walking through the airport, watching people all excited about their journeys, is intoxicating, and I think this is where being on a plane is different from all other public transportation. You see, nobody gets excited about getting on a local bus or on a train; yet we all get excited about flying. People are just different when they travel by plane. We all seem calmer, happier, and this is what helps me relax.
I get so excited when I’am walking towards the aircraft and I can’t wait for the takeoff, I could sit on a plane all day long taking off and landing its so much fun. As you can read I love the takeoff and landing, the feeling as the aircraft leaves the ground is amazing watching the world disappear as I ascend into the clouds, I’ve got goosebumps as I write this, the feeling as the aircraft rocks back and forth, I find that I’m so relaxed.
The thought of being in the sky is magical and I’m always happy, I find that I’m at my most relaxed when I’m flying my anxiety just disappears I’m no longer stressed. This is why I’ve been on a plane 8 times so far this year and I’ll be heading back to Spain on the 18th of June.
A few things have come together for myself and my long-suffering wife, Elizabeth. Having a car has played a big part in us being able to do more together. Living so close to Liverpool and Manchester’s airports has opened up so many opportunities for both of us, and then there’s Elizabeth, my wonderful wife. She is always telling me to book flights, etc., and I know this is because she knows how happy it makes me feel. We are going to Spain together later this year to visit friends, and then at the end of the year, we’re going to Bangkok for 16 nights, which we can’t wait for. It’s going to be amazing. Bangkok has always been on Elizabeth’s bucket list, and she hasn’t stopped talking about the trip. She’s even been going to Thai restaurants.
This is life, its all about the experiences we create for ourselves, all we want to do it travel and live life to its fullest while we still can.
