Travel Light

You’re sitting on top of your suitcase trying to shut it. You’re checking your list, afraid you forgot something, wondering why three pairs of shoes and your toiletries take up so much space! You’re using your bathroom scale to determine if you’re going to have to pay excess baggage fees, stand in an endless line at check-in and have to schlep your stuff, seemingly, through your whole trip.

Your baggage, whether hand held or emotional, should be light. I have become a minimalist and I love it. I have some more work to do, but my life is now almost light enough to walk away from anyone, any circumstance, go anywhere at a moments notice, with only hand luggage.

Unless you are an ancient Egyptian Pharoh, “It’s just stuff, you can’t take it with you.” This is true about life, packing for commercial air travel and unnecessary people in your life who have not earned their weight, economically, emotionally or in time consumed.

The Bedouins consider houses tombs of the living and value their freedom above all. When you gain the ability to walk away at a moment’s notice from places, situations and people that do not contribute to your happiness, you become incredibly strong, powerful and free!

The festive lights of the winter solstice illuminate the darkness, often in contrast to our spirits, as we reflect on our lives during an often stressful holiday season. What we love, what brings us joy or ignites our intellect, is often in stark contrast to what actually consumes us. Dispose of all the superfluous things and people in your life that weigh you down.

Lighten your load and see how good and clean you feel. How much time, money and space might you gain? The New Year gives us a clean slate and the hope of new possibilities. But it doesn’t happen all by itself. We have to close doors for others to open. Just like editing our closets, we have to get rid of old worn out things that no longer fit us, to make room in the wardrobe for fabulous new pieces that make us look and feel great. Life is no different. Everything else just takes up space and time collecting dust, suffocating us emotionally, physically, mentally, economically.

This year, whether packing for a trip, going through your contact files, closet or your thoughts, take what you need, keep only what you love, leave room for the lovely new things you will acquire along the way, and go!