Traveling Lightly…My Beginnings

Boston Skyline by Arvind Balaraman

For years, I was like many people, living in the traditional paradigm – going to work, socializing with friends, romantic relationships coming and going, collecting stuff, etc., etc.  In many ways, it felt good.  Teaching Deaf children was my passion.  I loved living in Boston.  I had wonderful supportive friends.  My home, an apartment just outside of Boston, was a perfect size for me, in a good place.  Yet, simultaneously, I was a free-spirit.  I loved traveling and going on the open road.  There is something about this movement which adds lightness to my life.

“Traveling Lightly” physically and metaphorically – what I strive to do, to be, and in spirit – a free spirit.  After being in New England (US) for most of my life, until my 40s, something changed.  I felt sluggish, bogged down, and life became about survival.  I had gained weight, which added to my overall state of being.  I no longer walked with a lightness even while doing things that I loved.  My energy and stamina seemed to be draining from me.

Photo by dan

For years, I did my personal growth work, being on a spiritual path.  I am eclectic in my beliefs and practices – non-religious, but spiritual.  However, I was not feeling the lightness that comes with being spiritual.  And all of my practices no longer had the same effect.  This ‘heaviness’ and being in survival mode was my rock bottom.  Change was eminent.

Becoming debt free was my first step.  I spent the last two years of my time as a teacher of the Deaf in Boston, getting rid of my debt and saving for my travels.  I celebrated with my long-time  Boston friends when I paid off the last of my car and credit cards.  Ahhh…a burden was lifted…lightness was re-emerging.

I purged my belongings.  I got rid of my apartment.  I lent my car to my brother.  I packed a suitcase, a carry-on and a personal bag (backpack).  I thought I was traveling lightly until I got out of my friend’s car at the airport and had to manage all three bags.  At the counter, when they wanted to charge me an overweight baggage fee I realized that I certainly wasn’t traveling lightly.  I purged at the airport.  I purged two weeks later in Hawaii.  By the end of my 6-month stay on Hawaii, I was traveling lightly, somewhat.  I was down to a suitcase and a backpack.

It is now a few years later, and when I have more than a carry-on and a backpack I feel heavy.  I want to purge, toss, give away whatever I am not using.  Right now I am in a colder climate so I have warmer clothes which weigh me down.  I am looking forward to being in a warmer climate – I will purge again.  Lightness is my goal, physically with my baggage, my being and my spirit.  This is what traveling does for me, even while dreaming of the places where I’ll go next.  Someday…just a backpack would be great…but for now…I’m good with two smaller bags.

I think the key to traveling lightly is that one must have a profound belief that whatever one needs will come to you.  I found this out in Hawaii as I had purged many of my things.  When I thought or said out loud that I was in need of something, magically it would appear.  Magically?  How?  I would run across someone who was going to toss theirs, or at the retreat place where I was doing a work-exchange, it would appear in the donation box..or I would get the money, unexpectedly, and I could afford to buy it.  ‘Whatever I need comes to me’ was reinforced during my first year of nomadic travels.

It is a profound trust in the Universe, that I will always be taken care of and I don’t need to lug things that I may potentially need in the future.  When I need it, it will come.  It can be a struggle at times, when fear creeps in, but ultimately, I know.  Letting go of that material thing is not always automatic.  The inclination is to hold on to it…maybe I’ll need it.  Yet, I experienced this manifestation of things, and, I watched countless others, nomads, who believed in the same phenomena.  They too would have things ‘magically’ appear when they needed something.  I am exhilarated by this fact, that we are taken care of – we can surrender to it.  This allows me to be able to travel lightly.  I can let go of those things I am not using, and don’t see the need for in the foreseeable future.

One of my Traveling Lightly Logos, available on products at Zazzle, Printfection and CafePress, if you're interested.

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