Several times a year, I take 3 or 4 planes to arrive in Perth, Australia.

It’s a 40+ hour journey, including layovers and an early arrival at the first airport when traveling international.  People tell me all the time that they ‘couldn’t’ do it and don’t know how I do it. It’s just a state of mind, an attitude, a willingness to be a part of the journey without attachment to when you arrive, as weird as this sounds.

During the trip, time blurs into one continual space. It’s hard to describe. There is no day or night. It’s all just part of the journey, kind of like being in assisted living, having television entertainment and all your meals prepared and handed to you and not remembering what day it is.

There are some tips that help the trip (and life) go more smoothly.

Eat Healthy

Bring snacks that you and your body love, that can sustain you if you don’t like the food provided.

Be Comfortable

Wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a sweater or something to wrap around you; even with the blankets provided, the planes can be cold.

Reboot

Bring a change of clothes; after 15 hours or so, clean clothes are amazing.

Shower 

Know where the showers are in each airport; sometimes you need to buy a day-pass at Delta or United, but the shower is so worth it, and the food and drinks provided plus the quiet atmosphere versus the hustle and bustle of the rest of the airport are lovely.

Be Patient

Practice patience: going through customs can be slow and cumbersome; listen to music, calm your mind, know and see yourself on the other side of bureaucracy.

How you experience travel (and life!) is your choice.  

Airport security

Is it really protecting us or about power and control? It is as it is. So, prepare for it, and accept it as a necessary step to get where you are going.

Feeling tired and out of sorts because of lack of sleep

Is it a terminal disease or minor inconvenience? There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep on the other end to comfort the body and get back on track. Know and see yourself well-rested and relaxed in your ‘new home’ at your destination.

So, here's my takeaway 

Your leadership skills depend on who you bring to the table, your attitude and outlook, your state of Being, all the right tools are useless if you are not in that healthy, self-loving space to apply them.

Let go of opinions and preconceived ideas of how things should be and dance with what’s presented. Go with the flow and bring your best self to all you be and do.