We recently connected with Laura Cross and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

As an inherently caring individual, I’ve always had the tendency to put the needs of others before my own. But on December 21, 2004, a personal catastrophe hit hard, forever changing my perspective towards life. My husband of 14 years and three months tragically passed away on the operating table following an aortic arch dissection/heart attack. He was just 36. His untimely departure was a brutal reminder of how fleeting life can be and it compelled me to reevaluate my priorities.

The subsequent years marked a profound period of self-discovery, during which I recognized that self-care isn’t selfish; instead, it’s absolutely essential. With this realization, I embarked on a mission to help others who may be grappling with similar struggles in life.

Combining my love for travel with my newfound purpose, I established White Sands Premier Travel. The goal was to assist people in breaking free from the daily grind and encourage them to invest in their well-being through leisurely escapes.

However, when the COVID-19 pandemic upended the travel industry, it further reinforced my conviction about the importance of self-care. Consequently, I immersed myself in coaching solopreneurs grappling with challenges akin to mine and established the White Sands Self-Care Community Group.

The group provides a safe space for individuals seeking resources, education, and connection. The overwhelming support and encouragement I received prompted me to take the initiative further by launching Mindful Mondays with Laura Cross TV Show.

Through this platform, I continue to connect with people globally, fostering a community that values education and collaboration. It’s my belief that nobody should ever feel alone in their struggles, and my mission is a testament to that notion.

From personal tragedy sprung a mission that transcends borders and touches lives. Together, we can indeed achieve more – because at the end of the day, we’re all in this together.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Laura Cross, a heart-centered and authentic individual, has traversed a long journey to reach her current position as a Travel Agent, Self-care Coach, and TV Show host. An Air Force Veteran with experience in various blue-collar jobs, her life took an unexpected turn when she became a widow at the age of 37. This profound personal loss served as a wake-up call, prompting her to find solace in the things she loves – helping others, traveling, spending time in nature, and embracing adventurous pursuits.

Seeing the potential therapeutic value in travel, Laura decided to become a travel agent. With each booked trip or guided tour, she not only helps others escape their everyday grind but also encourages them to engage in self-care and reap its multiple health benefits. This passion for helping others led her down the path of becoming a self-care coach.

But Laura didn’t stop there. She went on to build supportive communities that offer resources, education, and collaboration in a judgement-free environment. Her work now encompasses various forms of holistic healing and she is affiliated with many other like-minded professionals providing similar services.

In an effort to reach a broader audience, Laura launched the TV Show ‘Mindful Mondays with Laura Cross’. On this platform, guests get an opportunity to share their knowledge and personal journeys while advertising their expertise. Just three short months since its inception, the show’s viewership has risen from 4,400 to over 5,000 – and is still growing.

Being more than just a travel agent or a TV show host, Laura offers programs that help solopreneurs build their own self-care routines. She puts her heart into her work because for Laura, it’s not about making money; it’s about working with people who are ready to change their lives or make a positive impact on the world.

Her journey thus far, overcoming personal loss and stepping out of her comfort zone to launch ‘Mindful Mondays’, has been rewarding. Her biggest satisfaction lies in helping people regain their work-life balance, supporting them in their journeys, and encouraging them to truly enjoy life.

Laura Cross’s story is one of resilience and determination, fueled by a passion for positive change and the desire to inspire others. It proves that we are all different, there isn’t a single formula that works for everyone, but with the right support, we can all reach where we want to go.

Have you ever had to pivot?

The unpredictability of life often necessitates pivots in our personal journeys, careers, or businesses. A few years back, I was exhilarated about developing my enterprise, White Sands Premier Travel. However, the advent of Covid-19 instilled a deep-seated fear of travel in people. The swirling vortex of information and misinformation heightened this uncertainty, making it hard for anyone to make informed decisions.

I initially resorted to live videos to update people on the evolving dynamics of travel in the pandemic era. Still, the divergent perspectives on safety measures and travel restrictions added to the challenge. While I was accustomed to remote work, the task of earning a living when the majority were apprehensive about traveling was a daunting prospect.

During this time, I was part of an organization in Denver that emphasized holistic health and wellness. Conversations with various business coaches sparked a realization – my zeal for travel stemmed from the idea of self-care: the belief that people needed to escape their daily routines and care for themselves.

Self-care has been ingrained in many of us as selfishness. Yet, life experiences have taught me that we can genuinely support others only when we first tend to ourselves. The metaphor of the airplane oxygen mask stands testament – you secure your own mask before assisting others.

As lockdowns and stay-at-home orders became widespread, people were left grappling with their new realities. The overwhelming stress, worry, and anxiety threatened to escalate the health crisis. The need for connection and understanding that it’s okay to struggle became more pronounced than ever.

Through these interactions, I discerned the importance of establishing supportive, judgment-free communities where people could openly express themselves and form connections. This revelation steered me towards focusing on self-care, which continues to be a much-needed service today.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In my personal and professional life, I spent years adhering to unrealistic standards of perfection, driven by societal expectations, fear of failure, and the dread of ridicule. Over time, I realized that perfectionism is, indeed, overrated. The only person expecting flawlessness from me was myself.

Such an impossible pursuit of perfection can prevent us from realizing our true potential and purpose. Observing successful individuals around me, I noticed that they were not perfect; they made mistakes just like everyone else. And that’s okay.

Acknowledging this, I learned to embrace my perfectly imperfect self. After all, I’m human, just like everyone else. Some people might resonate with me, while others might not – and that’s okay too. Once you shed the unyielding cloak of perfectionism, often a mere excuse to stay within the confines of comfort zones, life becomes less stressful.

The key is to be able to laugh at yourself and adapt to whatever comes your way. When I was consumed with being perfect, I was either constantly learning or criticizing myself when things didn’t go according to plan. Neither of these approaches contributed positively to self-care.

Quality and intention become paramount when you let go of the obsession with perfection. Life is inherently more enjoyable when we shift our focus from being perfect to doing our best with good intentions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.whitesandsselfcare.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lauracrosswhitesands
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Lauracrosswhitesands
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/lauracrosswhitesands
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/whitesandstrvl
• Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@MindfulMondayswithLauraCross
• Other: https://Facebook.com/MindfulMondayswithLauraCrossTVShow https://www.facebook.com/groups/425602348768940 https://Youtube.com/@whitesandsselfcare

Image Credits
Allison Earnest Photography Aspire Images – Michelle Blanchard