If you are anything like me, you have a master's degree in over packing. This type of degree is unlike the traditional ones. Neither countless hours of homework, nor class attendance was involved. Anyone who knows you knows that you'll never leave your home without absolutely everything and anything you may possibly need. You don't like having "just enough", you enjoy being prepared for what ever the occasion may be. You like options, and the pleasure of formulating an outfit in your head without the restriction of having a limited number of choices. For us, we've slowly earned this degree throughout our lives. Overpacking is not a habit, it is a lifestyle.
Step 1: Start fresh.
The first step is a crucial one, mostly for my fellow neat freaks. You begin by clearing up as much floor space as you possibly can in order to better aid yourself in visualizing what exactly you will be taking with you.
Step 2: Pick and choose your favorites.
The second step is pretty simple, a step all vacation packers take. You select your top picks: your favorite tops, your favorite bottoms, and your favorite shoes. You can't go anywhere without your confident boosting gear.
Step 3: The backup outfits.
After choosing your favorites, you turn to choosing a "plan B" for each outfit, doubling the number of clothes you've already put to the side. These outfits are the "good, but maybe not good enough outfits" on a particular day given the mood you are in.
Step 4: The clothes for all those "adventures" you're "going" on.
Now you select the articles of clothing that you will turn to if the day calls for getting down and dirty. This could be anything suited to go mountain climbing, paint-balling, or if you're spending the weekend living like the wildlife in a rainforest. You never know!! Better to be safe than sorry #amiright?
Step 5: Moment of realization.
In this step, you look over at all the articles of clothing you've taken out and compare it to the size of the suitcase you're taking. You breathe in all the doubt coming from those watching you pack. Does the bag seem too small? Not small enough for us to handle.
Step 6: Now for the stuff we want to bring and definitely won't use.
I can't forget my blow dryer, hair straightener, bonsai plant, 3D printer, six pairs of sunglasses, hair curler, hairspray, hair gel, my 10 different hair brushes, all my make up brushes, my water bottle, my jump ropes, my phone charger, my portable charger, my entire jewelry collection, my calculator, my two umbrellas, my lucky socks, my 2nd grade trophy, my participation award, my volleyball, two books to read, my textbook, my other textbook, my crutches and my dog. Did I forget something?
Step 7: The pep talk.
This is where it starts to get tough. You skim the room and see every thing you've hand picked to bring with you. You start to get nervous, but you never express fear. You don't want the others to sense your uncertainty so you toughen up, drink some water, and turn up the jams. It's time to give yourself a confidence boost because you got this!!
Step 8: Stand, Sit, Zip
Now for our favorite part! The soothing sound our suitcase makes as we zip the zipper completely around while posing like Greek gods and goddesses as we use our entire body weight to tie the suitcase down. That sigh of relief, our greatest accomplishment, the moment we prove everyone who doubted us about our ability to pack it all wrong.
Overpacking is great and all until the moment you have to come back home and empty out your entire suitcase. Us over packers, we wonder how our suitcases haven't given up on us. We wear and tear them, push them to the edge and take full advantage of them. But hey, let's keep wondering and not questioning. To all my fellow over packers, keep doing you and follow the wise words my cat once told me, "If it fits, it sits".
