„Packing Emotional Baggage: A Story About Suitcases, Life and Letting Go“

The other day, I went on a little trip. Suitcase, destination, the full escape mode. And as always, it started with packing. The essentials first: toothbrush, underwear, charger.Then the “nice to haves”: That book I won’t read. The face mask for that imaginary spa moment. And of course - just in case I spontaneously feel like doing yoga...the mat. You never know.

Still got space? In go the extra shoes. That maybe-I’ll-go-somewhere-fancy blouse. A sweater, just in case. Oh and look, that T-shirt’s still out-might as well.

Boom. Suitcase full. And way too heavy.

I drag myself to the station. I curse. I sweat. I start questioning my life choices. And once I finally arrive, I do what I always do: I use half of what I packed. Maybe less. And I swear... next time I’ll take less.

Spoiler: Next time? I pack exactly the same way.

And that’s when it hit me and I realized this wasn’t just about suitcases — it was about emotional baggage.”

Isn’t that exactly how we move through life? We drag emotional baggage through life like we drag our overpacked suitcases through terminals.

We rush in, loaded with everything we think we need: Expectations. Deadlines. Roles. Pressure. Stories we’ve been told. Just in case.

We carry it all. Heavily. Stressfully and constantly. Until the body taps out. Gets sick. Forces a break.

And we say, “When I get better, I’ll do it differently.”

Sure you will.

The moment we feel better, we pull out the same old suitcase. And we start stuffing it again:

What ifs. Should haves. Just in cases.

Honestly? I’m tired of it.

Maybe now’s the time to pack differently. More consciously. More lightly and more truthfully.

Not because we have to.But because we finally get it:

Life isn’t a long-haul flight with excess baggage.

Sometimes, a toothbrush… and a little courage… is all we need.

Packed years ago. Unpacked never. Welcome to your emotional baggage.