Overpacking

Is anybody else really, really good at packing? I’m alarmingly good at folding, rolling, stuffing many more things than one would reasonably expect to fit in a suitcase. (Consequently, I’ve also been alarmingly good at paying overweight baggage fees…)

Even though it can be an impressive superpower, what about the extra weight we have to carry around when we overpack? There’s always a price to pay, right? Whether it’s an aching back from an overly-full duffel, or a hurting bank account from the baggage fees, that stuff ain’t comin’ with ya for free.

As I tried to jam my backpack chock-full of things I’d “need” for my 2-month trip, I couldn’t imagine not bringing everything I had laid out.
“It’s comfy.”
“It’s warm.”
“It dries quickly.”
“It’ll keep me cool.”
“It will remind me of home.”
“It’s black and goes with everything.” (Okay, that one might be legit.)

No matter the reason behind it, I could 100% justify every single thing I wanted to bring. No surprise to anyone, only about half of it fit in my bag.

At about 2am, a mere 12 hours before I was to leave for the airport, I had to have a very serious “come-to-Jesus” chat with myself. As I carefully composed my new, greatly reduced list of must-haves, it got me thinking about non-material must-haves, as well as the things I really needed to leave behind.

As I face the trip of a lifetime, here’s my revised list:

MUSTS:
Humility – You’re going to get lost, you won’t know the language, you’ll probably get sick, and you’ll probably feel real dumb about all of it. Don’t be too proud to laugh at yourself and try again (but this time, maybe try for a different result, okay?)
Gratitude – A trip like this is an absolute privilege. Be thankful every day that you have the money, the time, and the freedom to travel.
Kindness – Be kind to yourself if – no, WHEN – you make mistakes. Be kind to others. You never know when you might need a helping hand – but be kind even if the helping hand never comes.
Open mind – Be open to all that is so very different from the way you do things at home. There is always something to be learned.
Self-awareness – For safety & to seize the opportunity for growth, strive to know what’s going on inside and out.
Sense of adventure – Get out there. Explore. Be fearless (within reason).

MUSTN’TS:
Pride – Check it at the Indonesian border, if it even made it that far. See “humility” above for all the things that’ll knock ya down a notch.
Vanity – Fancy city girls aren’t often cut out for a trip like this, so just enjoy a little simplicity.
Attachment to the material – Things will get ruined or left behind. It’s just stuff, and you can always buy more. Bet ya won’t miss it while you’re out making memories.
Judgment – You chose Indonesia and India because you’ve never been any place like them. They’ll be very different and it might take some getting used to, and that’s a beautiful thing. No judging others, and no judging yourself as you begin this journey.

And in case you’re wondering, after just a few days here in Bali, I now know that I STILL packed way too much. Let’s just see what I shed along the way.