Pack lightly

Some travelers will tell you the horror stories of their suitcases exceeding the weight limit set forth or established by their airline. I have witnessed travelers going through their belongings looking for items to discard to lessen their weight and thus not pay the overlimit fee.

Besides toiletries, I have seen clothing and shoes discarded at the local garbage dispensary just so they may have a lighter load in their suitcase and meet the acceptable weight limit. From my traveling experiences, I have had my share of similar moments. As a habit, I do my best to travel lightly (not to say that on some trips I had to pay my share of overweight fees).

On one particular occasion, going on vacation with my daughter and friends, I listened to my “inner voice” and decided not to overpack. I checked my suitcase at the ticket counter. Phew! I was below the limit. I looked over to my daughter who frantically called out to me to hold my suitcase. Unfortunately, hers was over the weight limit. “Are you able to place some items in your suitcase for me?” She already knew the answer. “Yes, I can.”

It was a relief for my daughter to know that I was able to place some of her items in my suitcase. She could not throw away important hair products that were designed to manage the hot humid weather of our destination. What was important to her was important to me. By packing lightly, I was able to help her.

This lesson may be applied to many areas of life. We often hear of people carrying baggage which can mean carrying past emotional issues that have not been resolved. The burden can be wearisome, and if left untreated may often lead to physical and mental breakdowns. This may interfere with everyday life and relationships. Depression, anger, anxiety, guilt, fear, weight loss, weight gain, unrest, are only a few of the results of unprocessed negative experiences.

Going through life carrying heavy burdens [suitcase], makes for an uncomfortable journey to one’s life. How can one lighten their load and begin to enjoy their personal growth journey? Let me help you PACK:

P – Pick through those unnecessary items for travel. Holding on to negative emotions may seem appropriate and justifiable at the time but are not beneficial for the journey. They may weigh you down making progress extremely slow and sad. Take the time for self-evaluation and make a list of what is unsettled in your life.

A – Accept what cannot be changed. Looking over your unnecessary items, one may realize the many negative emotions stem from past experiences. What are you able to change? Perhaps your outlook, attitude, mindset, future? Acquiring help from a professional health care provider may provide the assistance necessary to lighten your suitcase. Another way may be learning through self-help books, podcasts, YouTube videos, which will help strengthen one’s mentality and encourage a positive perspective.

C – Connect with those who help to make your suitcase lighter. We are all a work in progress and many of us work on our issues day by day. Surround yourself with likeminded individuals who carry self-awareness and are dedicated to self-improvement. It is probable that they carry lighter suitcases. So do not be afraid to ask for help from such individuals. The opposite is also true. If you surround yourself with those who have not dealt with their own emotional baggage, there will be little room to help each other to lighten the load.

K – Know that change will take time. Be good to yourself. Focus on self-care as you pick through your suitcase and learn to discard emotional negativity. Learning to become a savvy traveler takes time and experience. I had to go through my share of embarrassing moments to learn how to travel lightly. Ultimately one’s journey is determined by the items in the suitcase. The lighter the better. By lessening your load, in turn may help someone else.

On our way back from our vacation, I soon found myself a bit nervous heading to the ticket counter at the airport. In all the excitement, I forget all about the souvenirs and clothes I purchased while on vacation.

Attempting to be a savvy traveler, I knew that my suitcase was over the weight limit but did not pay attention until I was at the ticket agent desk. Looking over at my traveling companions, I was happy to learn they were all willing to take some of my items in their lightly packed suitcases. Good thing they learned to lighten their “luggage!”

Diana Jaworski, F.O.C.U.S. Coaching Services, is a certified coach, teacher, trainer and speaker with Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. Learn more about personal growth by visiting her website at www.dianajaworski.com.