This fall we headed to Boise to watch William run in a regional cross country meet. It was going to be a quick weekend, and I preferred to not sit in the car all day on Friday and Sunday with only one day of play in between. I’m a bit of a diva when it comes to avoiding physical aches and pains! So I booked a one way ticket from Portland to Boise on a Friday afternoon. William hitched a ride on Thursday with friends and Jason departed Friday morning with one of the dads. Lucky for me, that meant my luggage could ride in Jason’s car and I only needed to take my purse on the plane ride. The ability to move through security, walk through the airport, board the airplane, get seated – unencumbered by a roller board felt absolutely liberating!
When the plane landed in Boise, we deplaned down the stairs outside. Even passengers with carry-on bags had to “check” them at the gate because the overhead bins were small. Lots of people had to wait outside the plane while their carry-ons were unloaded. Not me – I sailed by the crowd and strode out to meet my ride. I felt so carefree, and yes, lighter.
What does it mean to travel light at this stage of life? It’s something I think about often. No one gets to mid-life unscathed. It’s part of the journey of being human. Although our problems and suffering are individual to each of us, the struggle is universal. By the time we reach mid-life, we are carrying around a backpack that is stuffed with experiences – the good, bad, and in-between. The ordinary and extraordinary. The successes and failures.
Sometimes, that backpack can feel mighty heavy. It’s up to us to pause from time to time and unpack it. Sift and sort and discard. Because if we don’t, the heft of that backpack can become painful, even unbearable, and negatively impact our wellbeing and those around us. They see us metaphorically hunched over and shrinking under the weight, and it’s usually a detriment to us and our relationships.
