Only Bring What You Need

Another important lesson I learned from Boy Scouts was a simple one: never bring more than you need to. While this is generally a sound concept, it conflicted with a lot of ideas I had about Scouting and life in general at the time.

Scouting has a very specific set of guidelines to follow in regards to behavior and how to be ready in all circumstances. For example, the Scout Motto is "Be Prepared." When I began my Scouting journey, I imagined the perfect Boy Scout having a tool ready for every situation while out in the world. Taking this belief with me, I recall packing my bag for my first summer camp.

My face was sweating as I tried frantically to shove all of my extra clothing, tarps, knives, ponchos, ropes, trash bags, and other gear right alongside my pillow, toiletries, and sleeping bag. As my brother walked into my bedroom, he looked surprised to see my bag so full. Reminding me of his seniority and experience, my brother took me over to his room to see his bag. All of his clothes were neatly rolled and placed in the foot of the backpack. The entire bag looked rather empty, minus a few bulges here and there. My brother took the time to explain to me that it was important to only bring what I needed for the trip, or else I would be weighed down by all the unnecessary gear. Regardless of his advise, I decided to bring everything.

After trudging to my campsite and placing my immensely heavy bag on my cot did I realize how big of a mistake I had made. As soon as I opened my bag, items poured out all over the wooden plank floor. I scrambled to pick up a toothbrush and flashlight before they fell through the cracks. I finally understood what my brother had told me was true. In fact, I realized that packing light was vital to having a successful camping trip.

The next time I packed my bag for a camping weekend, I made sure to pack as light as I could, while still bringing the essentials. The entire weekend went smoothly and I easily stowed my gear in a location that I felt was organized and easy to access.

Over time, my understanding of the motto "Be Prepared" began to change. I no longer thought that being prepared meant having an item for every situation. Instead, I discovered that being prepared requires an individual to be ready to act and adapt in any situation, no matter how challenging. Life always has a way of throwing curve balls, and the ability to remain on high alert is vital to getting through it. From that first camping trip forward, I only brought what I needed for every situation. I did, however, always remember to "pack" my mental readiness to act and adapt.

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