India, Dec. 17 -- In 2017, I made the switch from news reporter to travel writer, and it's a decision that has changed my life in ways I simply wouldn't have the space and time to explain here. Since that day, I've traveled to 48 countries and counting, meeting new friends around the globe and documenting their stories, so I can come back and share them with you. Yes, it's a dream job, and I will not diminish that. There is, however, one piece of it I wish I could do without: flying.

Yes, I'm admitting it in writing that I'm terrified of flying-and I do it for a living.

So, naturally, I've tried just about everything, but only one thing has seemed to make a difference: learning how to source and read turbulence forecasts for each and ev...