It's been more than a decade since I did any international travel. Not surprisingly, therefore, I've had some anxieties about my upcoming trip to Wrexham, Wales. Not only will this be my first trip abroad in many years, but it will also be my first such voyage as a private citizen, as opposed to as a public servant.

I've had countless questions bouncing around my brain since I learned that I had won a contest by The Terry Fox Foundation for a weekend in Wrexham to participate in the first Terry Fox Run in Wales. Will I encounter issues taking my prescription medication to another country? Have the rules for carry-on luggage changed since I last traveled? How do I avoid roaming charges when I use my cell phone abroad? Will I be healthy enough to make the voyage? Is my health insurance coverage sufficient?

Despite these concerns, I've tried to operate under the model, "Feel the fear and do it anyway." I knew that this trip offered an opportunity of a lifetime, and I didn't want my unease to get in the way of my enjoying something incredible and special.

Although I started the planning process for this trip a few weeks ago and began to gather answers to some of my questions, today I felt my angst subside the most. That's because I turned my attention to packing. As I added each item to my suitcase and checked it off a growing list of things to do before departure day and to take with me on the journey, my apprehensions eased. As I obtained answers to more and more questions—either through conversations with service providers or through information I found online—I became calmer.

I've always found that, with travel, leaving is the hard part. Being there is easier. The better organized I got today, the less worried I felt about whether I'd be ready.

I feel lucky to be making this trip with my son, who is well suited to the pace, content and social interaction that our wild weekend in Wales will entail. Shane and I have been enjoying learning about the Wrexham story through the docuseries Welcome to Wrexham. We've been sharing texts as we watch successive episodes, vicariously experiencing the highs and lows of the Wrexham AFC football club, its members, fans and community.

Today's activities reminded me that organizing is one of my super powers. The more organized I feel, the less stress I experience. And I have an additional week in which to finalize my packing, compare notes with Shane, and heal from my surgery so that I'm #ReadyForWrexham.