Packing and unpacking luggage, I have never had a desire to do either one. Packing just seems to fill me with worry. I worry I won’t be prepared, I won’t have appropriate clothing, or I worry I’ll forget something. The entire process brings about an overwhelming fear of being unprepared, as well as a tendency to overpack.
Thus begins the procrastination period. I usually sit and think about what to bring, how much to bring and when I should start the actual packing process. Then, just to put it off a little longer, I’ll turn on the television and make sure I have just the right amount of distraction. Soon enough, this will end with me adding things to my luggage five minutes before I leave.
Now unpacking is entirely different. The problem with unpacking luggage is certainly influenced by my laziness, but it’s not the biggest issue. It’s the finality of it all. Once you unpack and everything is put away, it’s over. You’re forced to face the reality that the trip and the fun of it are already a part of your past. My denial gets the best of me, and I put off the unpacking process for as long as possible.
It’s like when you’re about to graduate from high school. You rush through the first three years, claiming you cannot wait to leave, and then, just when you approach the end, you really just wish you could pause and press rewind. You’ll come back and visit, but the feel of it is never quite the same.
Packing and unpacking now go hand-in-hand as we grow up. Unpacking means finality, and packing brings a fear of being unprepared. As we enter college, we are faced with the reality and apprehension of soon entering the “real world.” We would much rather remain children, where we were free of the weight of responsibilities. Overwhelming is the anxiety of being presented with challenges we have never had to face, the fear of finding a job and having serious consequences for our actions.
The movie "Peter Pan" may be G-rated, but I think more of us can relate to it now than we could when we were younger. “Well, I will not grow up! You cannot make me! I will banish you like Tinkerbell!” When I first heard Peter Pan say these words, I just thought he was mean for banishing Tinkerbell. I couldn’t relate to his exasperation until now, as I reach the last leg of my teenage years.The thought of never being a teenager again is just like unpacking my luggage, so final, it’s not something you get back.
I don’t mean to make you nervous to pack for your next vacation or too scared to unpack once you come back. I hope you’ll do exactly the opposite. Be excited for it, don’t stress about being unprepared, because that’s life, and you should enjoy the present rather than worry about the future.
