Pre-trip reflections

So you know how they say when you die, you don’t get to take any of your possessions with you. Well I haven’t exactly died, but that saying definitely felt relevant as I was packing for my “big trip” to India and then 4 months in Nepal. Here a few of my reflections:

· All you need is a backpack- all the rest is just details: I’m about to spend 4 months of my life living out of a backpack, and the truth is that’s all I need. All the rest is just “stuff” I’ve accumulated over the past years, nice but hardly necessities, an idea I want to keep in mind when I get back.

· Don’t save things for a special occasion- Enjoy them each day! While packing on the top of my kitchen cabinet I found a large stack of chocolates and sweets I hadn’t eaten, similarly in my bathroom- pretty cosmetics and other luxuries I’ve never uses- I landed up giving away/throwing out most of these. In future I hope to use and enjoy things when I get them- life is about enjoying, sharing and appreciating things each day.

· A desire to give- not get: Since I had limited space where the less I had to pack the better- I have been giving away or lending out whatever I can- books, printer, my beloved beanbag etc. Couldn’t help thinking how on a subconscious level I wish I had this attitude always- the more I could share the better.

· The Best things in life are free (ok I know this is totally clichéd but it’s so true!) Since I can’t take more “stuff’ my friends gave me presents that where so special and well thought out- beautiful “plane cards”, personalised games, a make-over of my I-pod, a sheet of addresses- with the demand that I keep all up to date on South Africanisms (eg. takis, slip slops and robots), pack of toilet seat covers, hand sanitizers, deodorant and toilet paper, a peanut-butter and jelly challah voucher for when I return, Israeli sweets and personalised dvar torahs for each chag.. All gifts that come from the heart and really demonstrated how special my friends are, this is really all I needed to take with me.

I feel that if nothing else the act of leaving in itself has made me so much more aware and appreciative of all I already have; My awesome friends; my favourite coffee shop on Aza street that plays old record all day; running, picnicking or playing soccer in Gan Sacher; Kabbalat Shabbat at Yakar; crazy shabbas meals, drinks on my balcony, all the things that have made my past two years in Jerusalem, so incredible and so hard to leave. In a sense I’m reminded of the story about the man who has a dream that takes him across the world only to discover that there is hidden treasure buried in his own backyard...