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The Need to Lessen My Load: A Reflection

Posted on February 3, 2012 by journeyingjames 46 Comments
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2 Days ago…

Day 1: People are surprised (some don’t even believe) that I only got 1 backpack for my 100 days trip.

Take this for example, from Cyd: “Eto lang yung bag mo?…Yan na din yung dadalhin mo around? Hindi ata yung regular outdoor-sy bag.” (That’s it?… for 100 days? Nota regular outdoor-sy bag.)

Yep, that’s it. I didn’t used my TNF outdoor-sy bag because its like a walking sign that  says “I’m a tourist here.” And that weighs way too much, more than 10% of my body weight.

 

Day 1 at Binondo St. (Photo credit: Hannah Reyes)

Weighing around 7-8 kilograms, I’m already traveling light. But then I realize that I need to lessen my load if I want to go to far places.

 

Now…

Day 3: I woke up this morning with a sore back and right shoulder. It was really painful that I don’t want to stand up, I just want to lay on my bed.

 

Looking Forward…

Days 4-100: I guess I will lessen my load to about 5Kgs. I want to trek swiftly, move around efficiently.

 

Realization:

I realized that everything I need can be fitted in one backpack. Moreso, I brought more than enough- 5 shirts, 3 shorts, lotsa toiletries, first aid kit, gadgets, hammock, jacket, etc…

Getting deeper,

I realize that in life we carry too much load, do too much work, worry too much, think too much, spend too much, eat too much, drink too much, commit too much. The tendency is to get as much as we can and we lose sight of living in the “now.”

We lose faith and hope for tomorrow’s blessing. We seem to forget what tomorrow brings.We tend to fill the cup to the brim; so it scatters when we try to drink from it.

 

And so I guess, I need to add these to my tag-

SPEND LESS, TRAVEL MORE. CARRY LESS, TRAVEL FAR.

___ ___ ___

Reflection made during Day 3 of 100 at Prayer Mountain, Antipolo City, Rizal. 10:30am

This is post part of ISANG DAAN Journey. ISANG DAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days.

If you want real time updates, you can check my facebook page:www.facebook.com/journeyingjames or follow me on twitter: @journeyingjames

You may also watch my teaser vid on Youtube: ISANG DAAN CHALLENGE

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46 thoughts on “The Need to Lessen My Load: A Reflection”

  1. peachkins said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 3:27 am

    love the quote, following your 100 backpacking days…

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:23 am

      thanks a lot peachkins!

  2. edmaration said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 3:41 am

    Ayos ah bosing James! With that backpack for a hundred days, I can’t imagine how you can manage that. galing ah. 🙂 Gagayahin kita, ipinapaalam ko na, hehehe.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:23 am

      me too, i dont know how to do this. haha
      hope to see you in ilocos

  3. Christian | Lakad Pilipinas said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 4:00 am

    masisira ulo ng gf ko pag nakita nya kung gano kaliit bag mo haha

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:23 am

      ahahaha! pakita mo pre yung bag ko. alam mo naman yan kasi nagkasama tayo sa lakbay norte 3

  4. Alex Dizon said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 4:32 am

    Way to go, James! Sana matutunan ko dn magpack ng light. Hehe.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:22 am

      i know you can 🙂 try lang muna

  5. atebibs said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 5:00 am

    Love that smile. <3

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:22 am

      hugs bibs! hope to see you soon!

  6. Isa said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 5:23 am

    James, I really like the realization. Ingat and enjoy!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:21 am

      yeah! i like it too, hahaha

  7. mar cay said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 5:43 am

    nice quote of the james! i like your blog ang dami ko natutunan. God Bless.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:21 am

      thank you, please do share on FB too!

  8. Rhona said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 6:00 am

    You made me think journeyjames….! =) like the photo hihihi…

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:20 am

      really? think what?

  9. Josiah @ Lakas ng Trip said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 7:53 am

    Nice new quote James. I like it. Kailangan ko rin matuto na magpack lighter, madalas din sumasakit ang balikat at likod ko kapag nagttravel. salamat sa tips. 🙂

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:20 am

      you pack lighter na nga diba?
      see you man sa palawan!

  10. Journeys and Travels said:
    Reply
    February 3, 2012 at 11:10 am

    hehe i agree. travel light means free of material and emotional burdens as well. I will take that by heart in order for me to get far. ang dami ko kasi bitbit when I travel so i learn how to minimize the load.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:18 am

      emotional burdens are the hardest to carry..
      thanks for the thoughts sir!

  11. hana banana said:
    Reply
    February 4, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    haaay, looking at that smile, it made me smile tOo… ^^
    ingat ka lagi idol! ^^

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:15 am

      smile…. when you heart is aching…. lalalalalala
      thank you hana banana!

  12. Eric said:
    Reply
    February 4, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    The lighter the easier to carry…..anywy, nice haircut you have….

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:14 am

      fierce ba or pa-cute?! hahaha
      thanks eric!

      • Arisse said:
        Reply
        February 9, 2012 at 10:13 am

        Cute…hihihi=)

  13. grasya said:
    Reply
    February 4, 2012 at 10:53 pm

    ingat sa byahe ^_^

  14. Hannah Rey said:
    Reply
    February 5, 2012 at 11:07 am

    beautiful.

  15. Lei said:
    Reply
    February 5, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    James, you never fail to inspire me 🙂 Have a happy trip!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:11 am

      apir! 🙂 thanks lei

  16. journeying pinay said:
    Reply
    February 5, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    cool. i posted this in my fb account. 🙂

    “If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.” -Glenn Clark

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:11 am

      thanks for sharing the post journeying pinay!
      nice quote too!

  17. Gladys | ByahengBarok.com said:
    Reply
    February 5, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    you got me at “I realize that in life we carry too much load”… wish i could just fit everything in a backpack…

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:09 am

      🙂 thank you gladys! now its time to let go of the things that drag us down

  18. mela said:
    Reply
    February 5, 2012 at 11:06 pm

    love this post.!!!! yes, sometimes we have to believe that we have in our “backpacks” is enough for us to survive.:)

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:09 am

      dont bring too much, it will eventually drag you down…

  19. Arisse said:
    Reply
    February 6, 2012 at 2:21 am

    One principles on backpacking is to bring what you need and not what you want…xempre nothing compares to packing light..Cheers!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:08 am

      i agree!

  20. MYANGligaw said:
    Reply
    February 7, 2012 at 3:24 am

    galing talaga.. i wonder what things you have inside that backpack…that also means you are to do laundry often huh??

    p.s. ang gwapo mo naman sa picture na toh!! naks!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 7, 2012 at 3:27 am

      yes, will do laundry more often.
      thank you sa PS. feeling ko ang pangit ko sa personal. hahaha

  21. blissfulguro said:
    Reply
    February 8, 2012 at 1:29 am

    super apir tayo diyan! mahusay james… go go go! 🙂

  22. chin said:
    Reply
    February 16, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    goodluck ulit sa yo. Be safe. Everyone is waiting for what is about to happen with your one hundred backpacking days. Ingat

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 17, 2012 at 6:35 am

      thanks chinchan! i really hope to finish this, 🙂

  23. Micamyx|Senyorita said:
    Reply
    February 17, 2012 at 10:14 am

    Nice one, James! Ako naman dito sa trip ko ngayon ko na-realize na dapat talaga mag-pack less… we can wash our clothes anytime naman hehe at mas ok kung medyo maninipis lang na damit since we’re in a tropical country (except siguro kung bandang Baguio-Sagada area). Keep it up James!

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 17, 2012 at 2:18 pm

      oha oha! konti lang talaga kailangan sa mga trip.
      thanks!

  24. germz said:
    Reply
    February 17, 2012 at 11:12 am

    i can survive with that kind of bag.hehe i’ve gone lakwatcha’s for about 3 days and mostly unplanned bringing only the typical ladies shoulder’s bag. un nga lng i’m with friends to borrow some stuffs. but travelling in far far places, still unquestionable. gb in ur 100 days trip.

    • journeyingjames said:
      Reply
      February 17, 2012 at 2:20 pm

      nice! hanga ako sa mga babae na konti lang mag-pack… i guess, if you have clothes that is good for 4 days, it can last to even a week, a month, a year, you just have to wash them though.
      thanks!

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