Today, Commerce and Lifestyle contributor Jill Martin has always had a deep connection to travel. And while a breast cancer diagnosis in 2023 may have put a pause on those plane ticket plans, she’s returning to them with a new perspective.
“It’s different now,” she told Travel + Leisure in a recent interview. “Being able to step away and feel like a version of myself again and enjoy life is a gift I will never be able to cherish,” he said. ”
The idea of having to put travel on the back burner was especially devastating for Martin, who said he could “travel for the rest of my life.”
“Will[I]ever be able to travel? Will I ever be well again? I’m going through a lot of mental trauma right now and I’m asking for help, and I’m asking for help.” “That doesn’t usually happen,” she said. “Usually I’m the one giving the help and right now I’m asking for help, but I just want to get up and go on an adventure with my family.”
Cancer-free in 2024, Martin has resumed travel plans with his family, including a big trip later this year. But now she’s being a little more careful with her approach.
“When I was younger, I planned every moment, but now I surrender to travel,” she said. “I give free time to everyone. I think sometimes the best moments and places are when you’re exploring. In life, when you’re bored, when your mind isn’t scrolling. I believe that people are the most creative. So my travels are focused on relaxing and appreciating every moment. I don’t like being on the phone. Every moment is remembered. I don’t like to be left alone, and everyone should put their phones away during meals, but I think the best parts of any trip are the hidden gems you discover as you wander around. ”
When she’s not traveling, Martin is on a mission to use her lifestyle and fashion expertise to raise awareness about breast cancer. This is especially true with her new brand, By Jill Martin, which features a special pink version of her best-selling Sherpa coat. And this month, she teamed up with the NBA and WNBA to release loungers and hoodies with pink logos for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Proceeds from Sherpa will be donated to the BRCA Vassar Center, the first center dedicated to the research, treatment, and prevention of BRCA-related cancers. (Martin tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation and was quickly diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, even though she had undergone a mammogram just six months earlier.)
“I believe I have been given the honor of this mission to help others. Today has given me a platform to tell my story, and the NBA and WNBA have licensed and licensed my logos on my items. “I believe it gave me the authority to make it pink,” he said of the partnership.
Jill Martin debuted a breast cancer awareness-themed sherpa coat on “Today.”
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She created this loungewear collection for advocacy purposes, but she says it’s her must-have travel piece.
“People often wear them on planes because they’re machine washable,” she says, adding that they can’t be put in the dryer. “It keeps me warm and comfortable, and it keeps me safe too. In my case, I wore it throughout my treatment, so I had the ability to turn it on and now it goes with me on all my adventures.” I love hearing people’s stories and telling me where their Sherpas have taken them on their adventures.”
As for other packing tips, Martin vows to pack in cubes, and also picks one hero item and centers it around, like a jacket and heels or a slip dress that can be dressed up or down with a sweater and sneakers. We also suggest shaping your entire travel wardrobe.
With a busy October ahead of her with new brands and various Breast Cancer Awareness Month events, she says she’s so grateful to be able to share her story and encourage others to get breast cancer screening. I’ll tell you.
“I’m a proud breast cancer survivor, and I never wanted to be in this group,” she said. world. “
