Backpacking across life
We’re all born naked and unencumbered.
Somewhere along the line we acquire enough baggage that we need to decide what to carry along with us and what we should just leave behind. Be very careful what you choose to fill your backpack with, some of it is very hard to unload.
Anger is heavy. Worse yet, it’s almost impossible to give away. Nobody really wants it. Just the mere existence of it tends to drive fellow travelers away. Leave it lying where you found it, it really serves no useful, long term purpose.
Resentment is the little brother to anger. An uncomfortable load that just sours relationships. It tends to be hard to dig out and unload. Best not to pick this one up at all.
Guilt isn’t as heavy as the previous two but it takes up so much space it can be hard to fit the good stuff in. Way too many hang on to this when it isn’t their load to carry. You can set this one down whenever you’re ready to, someone will always be along to pick it up.
Grief will be stuffed in at various times, in small and large sizes, without your consent. You don’t really get to choose whether or not to carry it. If you’re alive, and you ever care for another, sooner or later grief will take up residence. It’s best to take it out and examine it every now and again. The space it takes up will grow smaller over time if it’s given some attention.
Pain gets packed in all over the place. It can come out as anger, resentment, guilt or forgiveness and love. You get to choose what to do with it but if you don’t choose wisely, it just makes the pack heavier.
Forgiveness is a light load that helps you unpack everything else. Give it away. Even if it’s not returned, your pack will be lighter. And it might just help someone else unload a little of theirs too.
You can carry lots of hope around. And freely give it away. A smile to a stranger. A little extra tip for the barista. Everyone needs as much as they can get and it’s the rare person that will turn it away. The more you give, the more you have to give.
Love takes no space at all. And it’s lighter than air. Everyone needs it. Give it away in copious quantities. The more you give, the lighter your load and it’ll be returned many times over. If you have enough of this, you can empty your pack of all the rest.
This was a fun one to write. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I love it when I wake up in the morning with the wheels turning in positive directions.
