A Serenity Prayer for Packing? That’s right. Here’s why.
You might be familiar with the Serenity Prayer. It has various forms, but it goes more or less along these lines:
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
A travel-centered, packing-focused version comes into play when packing for a trip. Let’s consider it the traveler’s guide to packing wisdom or…
The Serenity Prayer for Packing
Here’s how the Serenity Prayer for Packing goes:
“May I find and practice the discretion to know what to pack and what to leave at home, the trust that I can get what I need at my destination, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
So simple. But as with so many simple things, it can be hard to follow.
Let’s break it down, piece by piece:
The discretion to know what to pack and what to leave at home
It’s okay to leave things at home.
Packing something “just in case” comes from fear. It’s good to think ahead and consider scenarios, but most never come to pass. If something happens, odds are you couldn’t have anticipated it. And more importantly, you’ll likely deal with it on the ground anyway.
More often than not, what you packed “just in case” becomes what weighs you down and what you wish you hadn’t brought to begin with.
Trust that I can get what I need at my destination
I’m confident you’re not planning an Antarctic expedition (but if you are, best of luck!). Wherever you’re going, babies need diapers, people brush their teeth, menstruating people need hygiene supplies, and everyone needs snacks.
You don’t need to pack a massive supply for the entire time you’re there. Pack what you need for a few days. Top up or replace as you go.
Everyone will find snacks that they like. No one’s toilet or hygiene needs will go unmet. Odds are you’ll even find the same toothpaste you use at home.
The wisdom to know the difference
Packing is a combination of needs, wants, concerns, specific requirements, and jitters, mixed with experience.
The more people travel, the less they pack.
If you make your best guesses but come back realizing you still packed too much, that’s okay. You brought home more wisdom to grow from and build from. That sort of wisdom, discretion, and vision are some of the most valuable souvenirs you and your family could ever get.
The next time you’re getting ready for your trip, remember The Serenity Prayer for Packing
You’ve going to have a great trip. And it’ll be all the better when you realize you packed the right stuff and didn’t feel like you’d overpacked.
As you get ready for your trip, The Serenity Prayer for Packing is there for you. Print it out and set it nearby. Design the words into a snazzy image for your phone or tablet. Recite it like a mantra. However you need it, remember, here’s how it goes:
“May I find and practice the discretion to know what to pack and what to leave at home, the trust that I can get what I need at my destination, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Source: Serenity Prayer
