Travelers and those who are living in another country are bound to experience a little homesickness from time to time. Plus every one experiences at least one major case of homesickness just about the time the culture shock gets to be too much for him or her.

It’s natural to miss your family and friends, even the culture that you grew up in when experiencing new places. Sometimes it’s a slow build to missing people other times travelers who thought they were completely acclimated will develop a sudden rash of homesickness. Symptoms are, missing one’s family and friends, the desire to seek out any other person or symbol from your country, loneliness, mild depression, an unwillingness to deal with the surrounding culture and maybe even a refusal to leave one’s room.

Some simple treatments you can use when this ailment develops are; making that costly phone call, sending emails to all of your friends and family, or if you don’t have access to the computer, writing a couple of long letters in which you pour out all of your frustrations and misery. You can decide at a later time if you wish to send them or an amended version. Also take a little time to yourself and don’t feel guilty about it. Treat yourself to some of your favorite treats like chocolate and pizza; even if you have to make it yourself so it’s just like those from home.

You should also take lots of pictures of loved ones with you to help offset homesickness. If you have an album filled with pictures you can look at friends and family whenever you want and you can also show off your loved ones to locals which should help you to make friends in foreign places.

Whatever you do, don’t force yourself to over do it in an effort to avoid homesickness. You can get out into the local culture and try to enjoy yourself. Develop an appreciation for the new experiences you are gaining and know that you won’t always be away from home.

Gail Leino is known throughout the internet world as Mrs. Party. She has become the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies with clever themes. Her simple party planning approach demostrates how to use proper manners while teaching etiquette with organizational skills. She shares lots of interesting fun facts. See travel vacations for more tips and holiday spot destinations.

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Amusement parks are one of the most common places for family fun, but they can often be overpriced and overcrowded. It may pay to look into visiting a less well known amusement park area and save yourself some admission fees. Cedar point is one such place.

It’s just off the coast of Ohio in Lake Erie. The amusement park has been around ever since the early nineteen hundreds and is constantly making updates to its equipment and bringing in new rides for the visitors. While here you can ride the roller coasters, tan yourself on the beach and even do a little river rafting on artificial rapids.

The park has lodging available for visitors who plan on staying more than one day in the form of the Great Bear Lodge, which has special amusements and privileges for guests. If however you don’t wish to spend that much you can always find a place to stay in the outlying area. Much of Northern Ohio on the lake is tourist area and you’ll find plenty of hotels in Sandusky, Ohio. You can find a relatively cheap rate in the smaller towns up to twenty or so miles from the lake, such as the small town of Clyde, Ohio.

Clyde, Ohio is just far enough from the lake that it closely resembles a farm community, but still has a few hotels and fast food restaurants. This can also serve as an opportunity to take the family on a drive through farm country. Once you leave the area immediately surrounding the lake much of Ohio returns to farms and fields. You might even be able to find a farmer’s market and buy yourself some fresh fruits and veggies to snack on while at the amusement park.

In a smaller community such as Clyde you’d be able to enjoy visiting Cedar Point on a daily basis, while also having the chance to get away from some of the hectic sounds and traffic of the city area.

Gail Leino is known throughout the internet world as Mrs. Party. She has become the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies with clever themes. Her simple party planning approach demostrates how to use proper manners while teaching etiquette with organizational skills. She shares lots of interesting fun facts. See travel vacations for more tips and holiday spot destinations.

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In aviation, there is a term that designates who, at any given moment, is responsible for flying an aircraft. That person can be the captain, it can be the first officer, the co-pilot, or even a student pilot, just learning to fly. But it is one and exactly one individual in any aircraft at any given time. This term is “Pilot In Command.” It is in fact a formally defined phrase under federal aviation regulations, because it is so critical to the safe operation of an aircraft. When one pilot wishes for another pilot to take over as Pilot In Command, he or she must engage in a brief, but very formal and serious conversation that goes something like this:

Current Pilot In Command states, “Your airplane?”
New Pilot In Command says, “I’ve got the airplane.”

What an odd practice. At least, this is what I thought when I first heard of it nearly 20 years ago. After all, someone has to be flying the plane for it to take offhow could it suddenly not be clear who is responsible for it? Besides, why should you care, after all, you’re probably not a pilot?

Have you ever been driving somewhere and thought that the person with you knew where you were and was giving you directions, but then they weren’t sure anymore, so they just stopped talking and let you drive straight? Then, after 10 minutes, you say something like “Are you sure this is the right way?” And they say “Oh, I thought you knew where we were” Or maybe, you’ve been the person giving the directions in this kind of situation.

But back to airplanes. One clear night in 1972, Eastern Airlines flight 401, carrying 176 people departed from New York destined for Miami. After a smooth flight, the crew of three pilots prepared for landing. As the landing gear was lowered, everything seemed normal, except the indicator light confirming that one of the wheels was down did not light up. It seemed like a burned-out light bulb was the culprit, but just to be sure, the captain suggested replacing the bulb. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get it out. It was stuck. The captain put the plane on autopilot as the three crewmembers tried to get the indicator light to work.

Within this incredibly sophisticated aircraft weighing over 230,000 lbs. and capable of transporting 500 people at nearly the speed of sound, these three highly trained pilots were entirely focused on studying this one light bulb. So preoccupied in fact that one didn’t notice when he inadvertently hit a control that disengaged the autopilot. So preoccupied that none of the crew in the cockpit heard the loud warning signal that indicated they were descending from their intended altitude.

And so preoccupied that no one looked out the window to see the ground gradually approaching until they were but 50 feet from it - not nearly enough time to change the course of an aircraft weighing over 110 tons and moving faster than 150 MPH. Nearly 100 people were killed in this tragedy. They were onboard an aircraft that was operating perfectly, except one light bulb. What went wrong? No one was responsible for flying the airplane. Each of the three pilots thought that someone else was looking out the window and watching where they were going. No one was Pilot In Command.

Often we do this in our life. It seems to be a part of human nature. Have you ever known someone in a job where they let the company direct their future by offering them new positions or transfers, and they just took them because they didn’t know what else to do? Ever known a woman in a relationship who stays home to take care of kids and the house though she seems sad, burnt out and empty inside, never even considering a career or other options? Who is Pilot In Command in her life? Did she and her husband actually sit down and talk about it? Maybe it would have gone something like this

Husband: “Honey, can I take charge of your life for you, telling you to do with your time whatever will fit best with my needs? Most of the time I won’t notice or care, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of my plans.”

Have you ever known someone who went to school to become a doctor or lawyer, even though they had little interest in the field, because that’s what a parent wanted them to do? Then, 10 years later, they realize they hate their career and they’re living out their parent’s dream, yet paying for it with the life they live.

We have all seen people in these positions, or faced them ourselves. Sometimes it’s okay for someone else to be in charge, but I encourage you to always be clear that you have made this decision, and also know how long it will be for. Too often, we give away years or decades of our lives pretending we are doing what we want, but having really given control to someone else. And just as often, that other person isn’t really even paying attention to our life, or what will serve us best (They are too wrapped up in their own life). Of course, there are difficult situations.

Things like not having enough money to make it without the support of someone who we let control our life. Or being in a relationship that we are too scared to leave. Sometimes we do need to stick it out for a while. If this is your case, I encourage you to pick a date for when you will take back your life. Write it down. Come up with a plan for how you will do it, then, as Nike says “Just Do It!” After all, how would it feel to be 70 years old and realize that you spend most of your life with someone else in control. Would the cost of not taking back command of your life be worth it? After all, we only get one chance at this lifetime - what do you want yours to be like?

Whether it’s on a short-term level, like driving with a friend, or it’s a lifetime level, like deciding whether to have kids or not, always be sure you know - and agree to - who will be Pilot In Command in your life (and for how long, if it’s someone else). And, don’t ever let the small stuff, the “burnt-out bulb” so to speak, distract you from what really matters. This lifetime is yours more than anyone else’s. You have the potential to make it something beautiful and glorious. To live whatever you dream. Take the chance, do whatever it takes, because you deserve nothing less.

Hundreds of people have worked with me on developing personal strategies that got them more free time, more money, and living their dreams. The amount invested was small compared to the results. If you’d like to learn more about my holistic personal life coaching services, including fees, go to: Destiny: Success at http://www.holisticlifebalance.com.

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