Selma Blair isn’t letting her multiple sclerosis hold her back from exploring the world.
“The truth is, when you get really sick and you’re not making money, it will temper your travel,” the Legally Blonde actress, 52 tells Travel + Leisure in their March cover story. “I was too ill to really get the bags packed and get my child together to go on a plane. When we did, I’d get there and wouldn’t enjoy it. I didn’t have the energy, I didn’t have the walking skills to deal with places like New York or Chicago. It was challenging.”
But not traveling at all greatly impacted her well-being: “Seeing new things can change your perspective. It inspires you. When you can’t do that, it’s a loss,” she says.
Over the years, elements of Blair’s health started to improve and she regained some of her energy. She decided it was time for her to start traveling again and in the process, she made a discovery.
“It wasn’t until I took a big trip to Paris that I realized how much I had truly missed traveling. And I realized I could do it,” she says. “Yes, when you have a health issue, you have to take care of yourself in a different way, but you can travel and it can help.”
She adds: “Having that shot in the arm of new memories and new visuals can be incredibly refreshing. Even if you are nervous, that anxiety can get you in a different mindset. Use that excitement to fuel you.”
Traveling with MS is not easy. Anytime the Hellboy actress takes a trip, she has a list of considerations and precautions.
“I have a number of safeguards. The first thing I do is figure out where the hospital is. I actually think that’s a wise thing for anyone to do, regardless of whether you have a health problem,” she explains. “I take my cane everywhere, even when I think I don’t need it. I have a fold-up model and put it in my bag.”
A common symptom of MS is losing balance and coordination. When it happens in public for Blair, she says onlookers would sometimes think she was drunk and may even call 911. Having a walking device or her service dog by her side lets everyone know she is okay — just living with a disability.
“I have my service dog, Scout, plus my cane, meds, and a variety of other things. So I have learned to keep it light with the clothes,” Blair says.
To keep it simple, Blair always brings a few fashion staples.
“I have a uniform—navy pants and a white shirt. I’ll bring a sundress and maybe a sweater, and that’s about it. You can make anything look good with a few simple accessories and always look chic and classic,” she explains. “My mother taught me that. She knew how to accessorize and would pack things you could wash in the sink. Now I’m like that, too. “
Traveling is a big part of Blair’s relationship with her son Arthur, 13, whom she shares with her ex, fashion designer Jason Bleick.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“We recently did Paris, and when we got off the plane, he’s like, ‘We’re going out.’ Normally I would’ve gone to bed, but having a child who loves to walk, shop, and see the cool things gets me to go out,” Blair shares.
She adds: “I just craved being somewhere beautiful where other people take care of you. I could order soup for me, and food for my kid, and enjoy beautiful sights. I used travel as a refuge in the darkest days of early motherhood.”
Read the full cover story and see more photos on travelandleisure.com or in the March issue of Travel + Leisure.
Read the full article here
