1/29/24

I’m an “over-packer” when it comes to packing for trips. This became a significant issue when my family decided that we would travel to Southeast Asia for two weeks with only carry-on luggage. 

Not only did I lack for nothing with just carry-on, but I actually had stuff that went unused! This was rather surprising since my approach to packing has largely been about, “What do I want to not forget.” If I’m being honest, the motivation underlying that question is…fear. 

Whether or not we like to admit it, that mindset is how many of us regularly interact with life. That is, we play defense against four primary fears that deeply plague us: the fear of annihilation, the fear of death, the fear of abandonment, and the fear of being out of control or defective. [Big thanks to  Gina Chick, an amazing Aussie speaker and educator, for articulating these so well on “The Imperfects” podcast]. 

Sure, looking at that truth is heavy and arduous, as is checked luggage, but the good news is that when we confront it, “packing” lighter becomes a lot easier. This is because like packing, life is all about decision-making. 

I appreciate that one’s journey often demands more than just carry-ons, but the more we check in with our fear, the more likely it is that we can drop unnecessary baggage.