"Travel is one of the finest and most life-enhancing stimulants to health, happiness and longevity."

I'm often amazed how many of my friends - even some of the most seasoned travel-writers and photographers - get the occasional urge to take a bus or a train - or anything else other than a plane. It does no good to deluge them with statistics proving that flying is amazingly safe relative to all other modes of travel (and a thousand times safer than crossing a street!) - even when one takes into account such terrible events as the disasters in New York and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001.

Those outrageous acts almost sealed the fate of many air carriers worldwide. But we humans are a tenacious, determined lot and, after a little sensible and perfectly understandable hesitation, it appears that the curve of risk-acceptability is improving once again and flying will no longer be "taboo" as predicted by many pundits and doomsayers.

"But it still makes me nervous," I hear you say. Well - maybe the answer to that fear, other than belaboring you with esoteric explanations of how natural it is for planes to fly (the problem is landing them - most planes seem to want to continue flying once they're up aloft), is to focus more on you, your metabolism, your comfort, your amusements and your diversions. And, of course, the spirit-nurturing delights of time spent with yourself with nothing particular to do at all.

Here are a few suggestions that may help eliminate some of the fears and discomforts of flying - and also they're healthy habits too, so if they don't completely douse the nerves at least you'll be healthily anxious!

Think loose-fit, even your shoes - feet have a habit of expanding in the air, especially if you decide to take your shoes off. Try to avoid tight belts, jackets, shirts, blouses, skirts or socks and knee-high stockings.

See those few "do-nothing" hours in the blue yonder as a wonderful opportunity to catch up with a bit of soul-time. For example you might try the following:

• One or two meditation sessions or, if that's a little too focused, some deep breathing exercises. With all that oxygen floating around, you may even achieve a little happy high!
• Think about and relive the good things that have happened to you and your family over the last year (forget the bad stuff, that'll keep for the ground level grumpies!)
• Think through your hopes and dreams for the rest of the year (or your whole life for that matter) and how they might successfully be accomplished.
• Go into area(s) of your mind where you spend far too little time - write a poem to someone you love, compose a song, think of an outline for a screenplay or a novel, compile a list of all the "big" good things that have happened in your life, etc.

Keep comfortable and relaxed in the following ways:

• Take an inflatable neck pillow with you.
• Watch your postureand place your feet on top of your 'underseat' carry on bags to improve circulation (and reduce that irritating foot and calf expansion!)
• Watch your sodium intake in salty drinks. Tomato or vegetable juices are often full of the stuff and add to your inflationary tendencies.
• Drink lots of fluids (less alcohol and more water).
• If you don't want the earphones for music use them to block out aircraft and other irritating noises.
• Consider taking melatonin to reduce jet-lag (particularly on west-bound flights).
• Do a few stretching and "in place" aerobic exercises to reduce stiffness and tension.
• Don't be dragged into long conversations with your neighbors unless that's what you enjoy. Do a crossword, feign sleep (or just sleep), or explain that you have to "get some work done" and start your autobiography!
• Read. Sounds obvious but how often do you have a few hours just to sit back and lose yourself in a good book or a wealth of news magazines.
• Do anything you feel like doing! Rejoice in the anonymity and "anything goes" spirit of flying and luxuriate in everything from ludicrous to learned pursuits. You choose. Bring some gourmet snacks and pretend you're in first class (use your imagination!) with charming attendants at your beck and call. If you're pleasant to them, they will be anyhow!