What's In Your Backpack?

We just saw this movie where the main character was a "motivational" speaker. I put that in quotes since he was pushing the idea of emotional isolation. He would start off by having people think of an empty backpack. He would then ask them to fill it with acquaintances, then co-workers, colleagues, relatives, parents, siblings, and then the ones closest to them, their spouses and children. He continued by asking these people to imagine picking up that backpack together with the weight of all the emotional attachments, and the problems that come with them. The idea was that one was better off alone.

Now this is a movie with a handsome leading man so somewhere along the way, it shows the main character willing to change, only to be disappointed. It sort of emphasizes the fact that what he had been preaching was right all along. Never one to miss a learning moment, I took my son aside and I told him that it was not the number of people in the backpack that mattered, but who was in that backpack. He had to choose his friends, and other people who surrounded him, wisely. These people should not weigh him down but be there for him on his journey, which is just starting. Most importantly of all, his parents should always be in that backpack. While most people do come with emotional baggage, isolation is not the answer. Besides, he has strong shoulders and getting used to the weight will make him more prepared for life. Jason sighed and said "All I wanted to do was watch the movie."

The main character had another take on the backpack. Instead of relationships, he would ask people to imagine filling it up with objects. Start with the knick-knacks, collectibles, and other household items. Move on to bigger things like furniture, vehicles, and our home. Imagine lugging that backpack around and feeling the weight on your shoulder. What would happen if you divest yourself of these material items? Would that make your life considerably richer?

Well, I like being comfortable and having a bed to sleep in. I like the mobility of driving a car. I like the warmth of my home and I do like pretty things. I even like things I do not need. Here is my response to that one. I think that like everything else, we all need moderation and balance. I cannot imagine going through life with an empty backpack. I just need to spring clean every now and then.