Some of you know but when I arrived to Malaysia, my bag did not make it here with me along with three other squadmates‘ bags. 3 bags had been found and I was under the impression that my bag cannot be found.
Before the race I have had a desire for minimal living. We live in such a world of clutter and hoarding. We desire to hang onto stuff that remind us of loved ones, or things that bring back memories. I started packing up my apartment in March of 2016, wow I cannot even remember everything I have packed and it’s been over a year since I’ve seen that stuff! I first packed away stuff I could do without until leading up to moving out of my apartment and moving everything out. There was like 10 boxes I packed that I didn’t need to live or use, why the heck do I have that stuff? Anyway I told myself not to make rash decisions and wait till after I come home to get rid of items so that I don’t regret it later.
Here I am living in Malaysia with my daypack. I literally have, my bible, toothbrush, travel size items (3oz rule), a journal, pens, my iPad, one charger, just 9 articles of clothing (1 pair of pants, 3 shirts, 3 pairs of underwear, 1 pair of socks and 1 bra), then I always carry my hearing aid batteries and extras for current and backup hearing aids along with my extra contacts. This is all I had in my daypack and I was loving the simplicity of it.
I packed 70 boxes out of my apartment, I was so disgusted by that. I have way too many clothes, I packed away so many kitchen appliances that I haven’t even opened out of the boxes and used, it could go on. Being on the race I shuffle through a few outfits at most and with just few bras and 6 pairs of underwear. It’s not much but it works. But I just own way too much for a single person!
I have said over over and over during the past 6 months “gosh I wish I could get rid of stuff, I’m tired of carrying all this weight of my backpack.“ Well I think God helped me out by making my pack go missing.
Needless to say, I got my pack back the past few days. I have more clothes and stuff then what I had, but come to find some items were missing from my pack. At first I was a upset, I wasn’t having that great of a day, I was hungry, and I saw what a mess my pack was when I got it back. I let my mind go beyond negativity and had a friend point out to me that I just need to be grateful for what I do have. Again, God is helping me with my wish to “get rid of some of that weight!” Be careful what you wish for!
I am happy to have my pack back, I got my hearing aid remote I had in there and my emergency cash was THANKFULLY in my bag that I carry as a treasurer as backup (sorry Hailey if you see this!) Yes I’m going to miss some of the items that got taken from my bag but honestly God was just helping me get rid of what I don’t need!
