News

Lessons learned on the road

BY Heidi Floyd, former Foundation Development Ambassador

Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 1, 2009) — I’m a breast cancer warrior/mommy/ wife/fundraiser, and I travel a lot. I am always on the go as the Development Ambassador for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer. My job, simply put, is to spread awareness across the nation about the Vera Bradley Foundation and its steadfast commitment to the research it funds. Here are the top ten lessons I have learned from being on the road. Happy (and safe) travels!

Pack a granola bar. Airlines will charge you about $498.25 for one, so it’s best to bring one from home. Better yet, pack an extra bar for a new friend that you will meet on the plane. He or she will appreciate it.

Pedicures are your friends. You will have to take off your shoes at the airport, so make sure your toes look pretty and presentable. When you ask your three-year-old son to help you pack sunglasses, make sure he knows you mean YOURS. Otherwise, you will be sporting a Buzz Lightyear™ pair for your speaking engagement.

Yes, that is a crying baby about to board your plane. Remember, this flight will be much harder on the mommy than it will be on you, cut her a little slack. This world would be an empty shell without children.

Always (ALWAYS) be prepared to discuss the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, even if you are in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Smile at people when you travel. Everyone else is having the same tough day you are, but we don’t all have to bring each other down.

Bring family photos with you. The first thing I unpack and the last thing I pack are photos of my family; they go right on the nightstand. It takes the edge off a bit from the days on the road.

Stay connected with family while traveling. I buy my kids new books and take copies along when I travel. That way I can keep reading them bedtime stories and help daddy out a bit with evening duties.

If you are sitting on a plane for an hour, you can write a few letters during that time and really touch someone’s life. Among my most treasured possessions are handwritten letters and cards I received while I was sick. Let’s face it, trying to find a comfy sleeping position is a losing battle. Spend your time in a better way!

We are all linked together. When you sit down on the plane, chances are that either the person right next to you or the person next to him or her has known someone in their lives who has battled breast cancer.