Living Out of a Suitcase
I spent 6 months of 2012 living out of my trustee red Samsonite suitcase. That includes the months living in Lao, the transition period when I shifted apartments in Singapore and when I was travelling throughout December.
The packing-unpacking process, trying to fit my life in to just one suitcase, taught me important life lessons.
1. Letting go
Packing is like moving on in life. You have to leave behind stuff that are less important to make space for the really important ones. You are only allowed 23 kg on Lao Airline. If you insist to carry everything with you - you have to pay the fines and carry extra baggage wherever you go.
2. Make your choice and stick with it
If I could have my way, I'd travel with 3 suitcases; one for clothes, one for accessories and footwear and a 'comfort suitcase' filled with my fave stuff ie.water bottle, frying pan, reading light, my gingerbread man doll....
But I hardly have my way. I have to choose what I needed the most and fit them in one luggage. When I thought of my red platform shoes that I left in Singapore, and how it would look great with my outfits in Vientiane, I told myself "You've decided to leave those shoes behind.So work with what you have".
What's done is done. Just look ahead of you.
3. Simplify your life
I normally have about 5 choices of working shoes, and more for play. And don't get me started about body care. I use different moisturizer for different parts of the body. I counted more than 10 products that I regularly applied between shower and stepping out of the house.
But for months, I managed to rotate 3 pairs of shoes - to work and play. I opted for multi-function products to cut down baggage weight. I realize I can live without a lot of things if I want to. IF I WANT TO.
4. Invest in a really good suitcase
You need one good suitcase that is:
I spent 6 months of 2012 living out of my trustee red Samsonite suitcase. That includes the months living in Lao, the transition period when I shifted apartments in Singapore and when I was travelling throughout December.
The packing-unpacking process, trying to fit my life in to just one suitcase, taught me important life lessons.
1. Letting go
Packing is like moving on in life. You have to leave behind stuff that are less important to make space for the really important ones. You are only allowed 23 kg on Lao Airline. If you insist to carry everything with you - you have to pay the fines and carry extra baggage wherever you go.
2. Make your choice and stick with it
If I could have my way, I'd travel with 3 suitcases; one for clothes, one for accessories and footwear and a 'comfort suitcase' filled with my fave stuff ie.water bottle, frying pan, reading light, my gingerbread man doll....
But I hardly have my way. I have to choose what I needed the most and fit them in one luggage. When I thought of my red platform shoes that I left in Singapore, and how it would look great with my outfits in Vientiane, I told myself "You've decided to leave those shoes behind.So work with what you have".
What's done is done. Just look ahead of you.
3. Simplify your life
I normally have about 5 choices of working shoes, and more for play. And don't get me started about body care. I use different moisturizer for different parts of the body. I counted more than 10 products that I regularly applied between shower and stepping out of the house.
But for months, I managed to rotate 3 pairs of shoes - to work and play. I opted for multi-function products to cut down baggage weight. I realize I can live without a lot of things if I want to. IF I WANT TO.
4. Invest in a really good suitcase
You need one good suitcase that is:
- large enough to fit all your important belongings
- light enough so it doesn't take up your baggage allowance or when you have to climb up and down the merciless staircases of London underground
- ergonomic enough so it runs with you when you're late for your flight/train/bus/ship/tuk-tuk
- sturdy enough to walk through the potholes of Vientiane or the cobble stones streets of Marseille. Or when it gets thrown about inside a Damri from Cengkareng
- presentable enough to stroll through the lobby of a posh building
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