Travel Light

It's time to board the plane. I open up my phone to check my boarding pass to see where I'll be sitting for the next flight. I'm in zone 4, which means I'll likely be one of the last guests to take a seat on the airplane. It's the final leg of travel on my 23-hour journey from Edmonton to Buenos Aires. I check to make sure I have everything. What am I taking on this flight? I have one backpack, and inside it, I've packed one toiletry bag, a book, and a cellphone charger. Boom!

As I board the plane, I notice the guy who believes he's entitled to 4 carry-on luggage items; he's frantically trying to shove most of them into the overhead compartment. Unfortunately, he's failing, and his luggage falls into the aisle, blocking people like me from taking their seats. One of the flight crew members says, "Sir, you're going to have to check your bags," his face reveals that he believes he's experienced a grave injustice. Then he does the walk of shame and is forced to check his excess luggage.

There's a lesson here on two levels. First of all, when you travel on an airplane, travel light. Take only the essentials and only take the space that you are entitled to. You'll have a more comfortable flight. Secondly, there is something about dropping things you don't need anymore to have a better life journey. Things like: insecurities, guilt, or even being overly guarded. I remind myself to drop what I don't need and keep moving forward. I have been that guy carrying too much junk and taking up more space than I'm entitled to. I don't want to be that anymore. I want to be a person who travels with only the essentials. My family, faith, and my values.

Friend, thank you for reading. Wherever you are today, travel light.