How to Travel Light When It Comes to Bags & Your Heart

By Alejandra Restrepo on December 10, 2017

As a young person, you have probably done some traveling in your life. Traveling with one to two bags maximum and only the absolute essential belongings could change your travel experience entirely.

As we move closer to 2020, a year expected to have many scientific and social revolutions, the American culture is becoming more and more drawn to travel and experiencing the richness of countries where living expenses are cheaper. I have seen many people from my generation pick up their bags and go see the world. Although this golden dream to live an exciting experience, get some freckles, and get soaked by clear waters of indigenous islands may not be as easy as walking out the door, traveling light is.

Taking only what you need will leave space in your mind to explore more, to make better decisions and to have a better experience.
Photo via Pixabay

I have been packing and catching planes since I was 10 years old. I moved to Florida as a middle schooler, and foresaw many more flights coming my way, as my family was spread in different areas of North and South America. Several times, and within a month’s notice, I would have to pack my every belonging and make a move.

This was exciting, promising and it symbolized a new beginning every time. Change is necessary, change will never cease to be, and as humans, deep down we appreciate change in our life and being faced with new horizons and a new present.

Packing, I found myself immersed in thought about how my life would change, who I would meet and what I would find myself doing. I would enjoy the process to preparing for change. After many flights of walking through huge airports with a bed and a closet on my back, I just kind of eased into packing and taking less stuff.

As I grew up and I began to gain maturity I realized what mattered and what never changed was the relationship I had with my friends and family, and they were the reason for so many hours 40,000 feet above ground level.

So here is the key: take only your favorite clothes, whether it is travel for a weekend or for the next foreseeable future — take this chance to open the opportunity to renew your wardrobe. Take only the hygienic products that you would use in one day – I would really only take a toothbrush, and my favorite lotion as well my personal manicure tools and favorite polish. I took my most valuable jewelry, study material and electronics. Pack tightly, don’t leave spaces where you can fit all kinds of little things, play Tetris with your bag, it could be fun.

Learning to take the essentials, or as we now call it “minimalism,” is liberating, relaxing and unattached. Think of survival and go from there. I think learning to travel light will make your heart lighter as you face new challenges, as you leave some people behind and embrace the mystery of life and what it will have in store throughout this new journey.

Your mind and heart will always be with the ones you love as you cross some boundaries and allowing yourself to get rid of old belongings and only taking what you need with you is a reassurance that you can let go. You will be comforted in the feeling of condensing what you call yours into the most important things, giving your relationships the chance to shine through your priorities.

Travel light, leave things behind, take only what makes you happy, what makes you you. Embrace the new, the unknown and the exhilarating.

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