Y’all, this stinks. It does. And it’s ok to feel that way. No one’s happy all the time—that’s not human nature. Having struggled with depression most of my life, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to manage stress, disappointment, and things out of my control. My travels have given me so much: deeper faith, self-confidence, friends, my husband, a creative outlet, something to look forward to in the dark cold winters, etc. It’s sad that I no longer have those things when and how I want them.

Cancelled plans, however, don’t have to get you down. It’s not selfish to be sad for the things you lose in life. Here are a few reasons why it’s truly okay, and even healthy, to mourn and grieve your cancelled travel. I hope some of my strategies can work for you, too.

Grief is all about feeling your feelings. It sounds corny, but there you have it. Once you feel it all, you can move on, be happy again, and start looking for the next thing to look forward to.

Reason #1: Because it’s More than Just a Trip

It’s the Effort You Went To

You saved money and vacation time for that trip. You dreamed about it. You did the research. You booked everything. You put time, effort, and care into planning this fantastic trip.

It’s the Lost Opportunity

This was going to be your time to have that great adventure, truly relax, sit on the beach and listen to the waves, hike that iconic trail, become someone you don’t get to be in your everyday life! This was more than a trip, this was supposed to be your escape.

It’s the Time-sensitive Gift

This was a special occasion. It was your honeymoon, your anniversary, your milestone birthday, you gift to your parents, kids, or friend who needed encouragement. Sure, you can delay in most cases, but not all. There’s just something special about being somewhere on the day. Or doing something special on the day. You might take that trip later, and it really might be just as good or better, but it won’t be the same.

It’s okay to be sad about that for a minute, an hour, a day. Let yourelf cry, go for that long run and really wear yourself out until there’s nothing left. You can feel however you feel; then you can move on.

Reason #2: Because You Need a Vacation Right Now

Right? We all need a vacation from COVID-19. We need a break from the news coverage, the stay-at-home orders, the masks, the gloves, the bleach, the lack of toilet paper in the stores, all of it. We need a vacation! And wouldn’t you know? Right now that’s exactly the one thing we can’t have.

Oh, the irony.

It’s okay to be upset about that. Let yourself be as upset as you like for one hour. Talk out loud about how mad you are. Throw a pillow. SCREAM into that pillow! Limit yourself to 15, 20, 30 minutes or even an hour. And then be done with it. Get it out so you can move forward and find the next thing to be excited about.

Reason #3: Because You’re Not the Only One Who’s Disappointed

It’s bad enough that you’re disappointed. But so are your kids, your spouse, your travel buddy, your parents, your girlfriends who stay at that beach house that weekend every year. Your kids were really looking forward to that Spring Break trip. Your parents only celebrate 40 years of marriage once in their lives, and now you all have to miss out on the celebration. You only see that part of the family on the other side of the country once every five years, and now you all have to skip it. You finally had enough money and points saved up to take that incredible trip where you planned to propose… and now it’s not happening.

It’s okay to be upset about that. Talk to the people who are just as disappoionted as you. Let them know it’s okay to feel how they feel. Find a way to celebrate the togetherness anyway. Use FaceTime or Zoom. If it’s the same people you’re quarantining with, create a “theme night” and pretend you’re there. Order a little gift from a local business and send it to your would-be travel mates. Feel how you feel, then cope together, even apart.

No matter how many others are disappointed, how they may be taking it out on you, or how upset anyone else is, remember that it’s not your fault.

Reason #4: Because it’s Out of Your Control

You can’t control COVID-19. You can’t control the travel industry. You can’t control your cancelled accommodation. You can’t control how quickly researchers are working to find a cure or a vaccine. This whole thing is simply and cruelly out of your control. Here’s what you can control:

• Your response
• Your tone
• Your words
• Your actions
• Your quarantine experience
• Your boredom level
• Your daily routine
• Your kindness to yourself and others

There really are so many things we can control that typically end up falling through the cracks. We now have time for those things we never had time or energy to do before. Use that. Your lost trip is out of your control, but your future trips aren’t! You can shift your trip dates. And then if it still doesn’t happen, shift them again. Can’t move your trip? Plan the next trip.

It’s okay to feel helpless right now, but it’s not okay to wallow. It’s okay to feel helpless, but it’s not okay to wallow. Feel how you feel, then do something about it. Don’t let yourself get in that downward spiral. Wherever you are, you can stop. Then you can start looking up and making a game plan.

Need some more encouragement in the Age of Corona? Check out my Health and Wellness Page for everything from how to work from home to how to handle the stress and more.

Love this post? Pin it for later!