“How has this trip pushed your boundaries in positive ways?”
If you know me, you know that I am a big fan of dressing to the nine and really expressing myself through clothes. In turn, I have a rather expansive closet and a difficult time packing to go anywhere for an extended period of time. I love being the girl who has anything you may possibly need at any given moment, it’s a comforting feeling! I knew going into this trip that I wanted to challenge myself to bring a carry on suitcase and backpack, but no more.
I did a pretty decent job getting a plethora of unique outfits vacuum sealed into thin bricks that conveniently fit right into my luggage carriers. It caused a lot of anxiety, forcing myself to reevaluate what I truly needed countries away from my house. I also seriously hate rewearing clothes, like with a burning passion. It’s not a productive or sustainable way of thinking, but I have a deep fear of smelling bad. Just like how Plastic Whale encouraged us to change our relationship and levels of comfort with trash, this trip encouraged me to rethink about the necessity of cleaning clothes after only one use. It seems pretty simple, but this was a really big step for me mentally!
Sadly I had to get another suitcase to check with me, but I still grew a lot from pushing this boundary! A lot of water goes into a single wash cycle, and I want to make a stronger effort to reduce my consumption this year.
Carson Thorpe 