How I Used Mindfulness to Stay Calm During a Travel Disaster

We thought we could beat the storm. We thought it would miss us, or that we could leave before or after it hit. We were wrong. 

It was the last destination on our amazing trip. The first half was relaxing and beautiful, and a little indulgent. 

The last stop was where we were going to be more active and adventurous. We had a reservation for the popular black sand beach. We brought our hiking shoes and were ready to chase the waterfalls. We were ready for the kind of vacation we usually strive for – outdoors, active, beautiful. 

Things stopped going to plan as soon as we arrived. We made it to our first park and hiking location in just the nick of time (or so we thought). However, we were told that the park would be closing early in anticipation of the incoming storm. 

So we high-tailed it to the picturesque Sacred Pools waterfall that was closest. We snapped a few photos of this awe-inspiring place that we didn’t have time to enjoy. Then we started booking it up to the bamboo forest and one of the most iconic waterfalls in the area (there was no shortage of waterfalls, but this one was supposed to be *the* waterfall to see). 

We started running up the mountain. We could make it. We’re fit, we’re fast. 

A lot of people were coming down the hill, but that didn’t stop us. 

Until the ranger stopped us. 

We were so close. It was maybe 10 more minutes away. We could see it! But we couldn’t. The park Ranger was making everyone turn back so we could make it out of the park for the mandatory early closure. 

The weather was fine! The sky was blue, with hardly any clouds in the sky. A little windy, but it wasn’t like the hurricane was here yet. 

But still, the first disappointment ensued. 

So we headed back to the hotel to try to enjoy one more night before the storm was supposed to hit. 

The hits kept coming. There was only 1 place to eat – the mediocre-reviewed restaurant owned by the hotel. We walked in; it was dead. I was overdressed (I had one dress left, and I was determined to wear it – I looked like an oblivious tourist). 

I felt like the whole restaurant was looking at us like “these people 😒”. 

The food was indeed mediocre (little did I know the lunch menu was way better, but we were too late for that). 

We headed back to our room for (unbeknownst to us) our last chance to enjoy a spotty-but-existent internet connection. Side note: this hotel doesn’t actually offer TVs in their rooms. They want you to “enjoy being among nature”, even after dark when there is nothing else to do. 

Our reservation for the black sand beach was the next morning. But the parks were closed, so we missed our window for that. The internet lost connection while I was on my phone. Yet the storm hasn’t actually arrived. Sure, it was cloudy and quite windy, but nothing like what we were expecting. 

Maybe the storm will pass by and not really hit us? We’re leaving tomorrow, so as long as it is done by then, we’ll be fine. 

We’re leaving tomorrow. 

The last day at the resort was quite boring. No internet, no TVs, mediocre food, expensive drinks. 

We saw the wild waves at the beach. We attempted to play mini golf. We played A LOT of cribbage. 

But we’ll be leaving tomorrow. 

The storm was supposed to pass by us overnight, so we got up super early to give ourselves plenty of time to get down the windy one-lane road, expecting the road would likely have debris or other areas of slowdown on our path. 

It looked like the storm had come through.

We loaded the car and started the journey home. 

We had a few rough spots. Had to dodge some piles of rocks, branches, and mud. Had to stop to move a few tree branches. We made it a few miles down until we were (again) told we had to turn around. 

A tree had fallen and was covering the entire road a little ways up. 

It was expected that the crew would take a few hours to get the road cleared. 

We headed back to the hotel as a safe place to hang out until we were cleared to leave. 

We might still make our flight if we leave soon enough. 

The storm was not finished. It was just beginning to hit this area. 

We saw downpours heavier than we’ve ever seen before. The wind was howling. 

We were among many people in the hotel wondering what the fate of our flight status was going to be. 

Were flights getting cancelled? Not necessarily – we just had to get to them. 

If we miss this flight, when can we get home? 

How can I call the airlines with no cell service, no wi-fi, and now no landlines? (The hotel did eventually set up a Starlink connection in the lobby). 

This is when I started to worry. My mind took off without me.

Should we have left yesterday? Probably, but we didn’t know at the time it was going to be this bad.

I miss my kids.

I hope they aren’t mad at us for being gone this long.

I hope they know how much we miss them.

When will it be safe enough to leave? How dangerous could it be if we try to leave?

Will the power go out? What if we get stuck another day?

Wow, the mind can go just WILD if you let it.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I felt homesick. And I felt helpless. I didn’t want us to be so risky that we put ourselves in a legitimately dangerous situation. I’ve learned you don’t mess with Mother Earth when she’s on a rampage. But I didn’t want to be so cautious that we missed our window entirely. There are a lot of people trying to rebook flights. 

If I’d let it, that feeling could have swallowed me whole and made the rest of the trip even more challenging. And here’s the thing, I don’t think my mind was doing anything wrong. This is just what minds do when they’re faced with uncertainty. They spin. They rehearse the worst-case scenario. They try to solve problems that can’t be solved. If you’ve ever caught your own mind doing this, on a delayed flight, in a waiting room, or on a sleepless night, you know the feeling. But don’t worry, our minds are not broken; they are performing as designed. 

So what actually helped?

I had two books with me on this trip. One was about Pilates because I’m trying to learn more about the Pilates method. And the other was Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn (I’ve been really into mindfulness and Buddhism for the past few years, just trying to learn more, and he is the go-to on all things mindfulness).  That book turned out to be exactly what I needed, not just to pass the time, but because it was reminding me what I needed to keep my cool and be a source of calm for others in this trying situation.

I’ve studied mindfulness quite a bit, but it really does bear repeating and reminding to help keep it top of mind when you truly need it most. Mindfulness is a great concept to learn, but it matters not at all if you can’t put it into practice during times of stress. 

Mindfulness teachings for the win

Awareness is one of the primary principles of mindfulness. 

Awareness of what your mind is thinking and saying. 

Awareness of your current physical situation. Are you currently safe? Are you currently in imminent harm? Is your body ok? Are your loved ones ok? 

Once we start to hear our thoughts as if they are being said by someone else, we stop internalizing them as facts. 

Thoughts are not facts.

What do we know to be true? 

What can I do in this moment to be helpful? 

What can I do to be proactive for what may come? 

I should note, though, that awareness also requires non-judgment. When you start hearing your thoughts, it’s easy to judge the part of you that was spiraling or think that you should “be better”. But it is just as important to be compassionate with yourself for thinking the thoughts that led to the mental spiraling in the first place. You are, after all, human.  

Another key concept of mindfulness (and yoga) that helped me in this experience is letting go, or non-attachment. In this example, it really pertains to not clinging to the obsessive wondering of what we should have done differently. Or letting go of the negative outcomes (feeling homesick and missing my kids).  

Mindfulness requires acceptance of what is. There is a chapter in the book I really like that is called “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf”. And I think that concept really helped me deal with the uncertainty, the homesickness, and the fear that I made mistakes that led to this situation. 

When I was “surfing” the waves, I was able to get ahold of an agent at the airline and secure a flight the following day. We checked back in for one more night, played more cribbage, and followed the same early-morning preparation for the long and sketchy drive. 

It wasn’t a stable drive, but we made it down the hill in time to even grab breakfast. 

The weather was much better that day. I’m glad we waited. 

Our support system at home held strong. So instead of feeling guilty that we needed the extra help, we came home so grateful we had it in the first place. 

So, what’s the takeaway? 

You could (a) always travel with a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn in your luggage, or (b) try to practice mindfulness on a regular basis so that when uncertainty or even disaster does strike, you are much more balanced and mentally prepared for the potential spiral – and how to ride the waves. 

How do you build the mindfulness muscle? Meditation. 

There are countless resources available to help you to learn and begin a meditation practice. If you’d like to join me, I have a growing collection of guided meditations and meditation resources in The Kalana Yoga Skool. I’d love to be that resource for you. 

~ Shauna 🌿

Meet Your Guide 

Shauna Hay-Viets is a mom of two and a yoga instructor with 16+ years of practice and nearly a decade of teaching experience. Shauna specializes in teaching beginner-friendly, adaptable yoga to busy, active women looking to reduce stress and build a practice that fits real life. Shauna is passionate about helping her students achieve their greatest goals on and off the mat. Join The Yoga Habits Collective for more training and resources.