Minimalism

Do you ever wish you could unpack all your stuff that has added up over the years? SO MUCH STUFF…..

The freedom I feel on the road is so refreshing. Many of my friends know I can rock 1 bookbag for a week trip & not even think twice about it. Simplicity is more important to me than ever before. All the extra weight is drowning at times, so I consciously choose to lighten my load.

In Dec 2019, I learned the hard way to just go with the flow. We’ve all been screwed with lost luggage on a trip or two & mine was after trekking to Mt Everest base camp. I meticulously packed my winter, dirty clothes in vacuum seal bags because I was treating myself to a week of recovery on the beautiful beaches of Bali (since I was already on that side of the world). After delays & being slightly delirious from a severe bout of food poisoning, my Bali 3am arrival was scarred with me standing alone in the airport terminal without any of my possessions. After a 5 min panic attack, a wave of calmness swept over me and it was a major turning point in my perspective. If we only have this 1 imperfect life, then why am I crying? I’m in paradise with a week to recover by exploring pristine waterfalls, snacking at beachfront bats, laying on the beach at night & listening to the waves, enjoying massages from my bungalow, riding ferries over crystal blue waters, renting a moped to traverse the island, and on and on. Plus I told the airline you can keep my raunchy hiking clothes bag for a week until I come back for my return flight. Winning, right??

So I set off with 1 day bag (seriously just 5 lbs) & had the most memorable week. It was scorching hot & ridiculous humidity (and I’m from Florida so I have a true comparison) in Dec on the other half of the equator, so I was thankful to wear as little clothes as possible. I was light & nimble on my moped slashing through the jungle curves on Nusa Penida Island and hopping between a few different treehouses was seamless. My possessions included:

• Phone
• Headphones
• Wallet
• Kindle
• Cameras
• Mini tripod
• Hat
• Travel pillow
• Hiking boots
• Flip flops
• 2 pairs of shorts
• 2 tank tops
• 2 long sleeve shirts
• 1 hoodie
• 2 pairs of undergarments
• A few toiletries
• A few snacks

So needless to say, my return to my Florida life was culture shock. Instead of getting sucked into the grind, I started to simplify all parts of my life, as possessions just had less meaning & importance to me. I typically go into a mini depression when returning from any epic trip. It’s fairly common & I still to this day haven’t figured out a way to avoid it. But enjoying the simple things is usually a good start.

Minimalism is living with what you need & that looks different to everyone. What does it mean to you?