Leave Your Bags at Home

Baggage – Day 16 of the 30 Days of Indie Travel Project

Mental baggage can weigh us down as much as physical baggage when we travel. How do you travel lightly – either emotionally or physically?

I cannot tell a lie. I already posted several days ago that my biggest travel faux pas is packing too many clothes for a trip, and someone would call me out on that if they got wind that I was changing my story. I do, however, only use one suitcase. But, the one suitcase always weighs me down.  Am I going to get a black blot on my passport for that? I think not. Just an aching back.

My husband and I travel together very lightly emotionally, though. It’s taken a few years to get this down,  but our travels together are always fun. We give each other space, and don’t insist that we be together 24/7.  We don’t have expectations of each other on what we should do and when.  And that, my friends, is the ticket to lightning your emotional baggage. It’s also a tremendous boon to your marriage, by the way. We also find it easier to avoid emotional baggage by taking few trips with other people, who will have their own baggage that we don’t want to get involved with.

For you young unmarried ones out there, you’re on your own to figure it out. I would just say “be happy and enjoy the trip, and leave your bags at home”. You know which ones I mean, right?

I just found this great quote on twitter today. Perfect timing.

Everyone has baggage, just avoid those who’re dragging a dumpster. ~jowyangJeremiah Owyang