Outfits + Overthinking

Sitting on the edge of my bed, surrounded by piles of clothes that I've scattered about. To most people, it probably looks like a mess, but there is a method to this. Very on brand, I find myself deep in my thoughts, feeling a purpose or some kind of meaning on the horizon, but I can't quite reach it yet. Packing is often seen as a mundane task, but for me, it’s a therapeutic experience; the reflection, organization, and anticipation.

The Medication Dilemma

One of the most overwhelming parts of prepping for this trip has been figuring out the absurd number of medications I might need. Anti-malarials, gut stuff, just-in-case backups, “this probably won’t happen, but I’ll feel better if I bring it” options. It’s a reminder of how travel intersects with health risk, and how rarely I have to think about that in my daily life. That’s privilege, plain and simple.

The very act of organizing all my medications becomes almost meditative at one point. I was thinking through all the possibilities of what I can and cannot take at the same time, envisioning specific scenarios for each drug and what needs to go in the day bag. I certainly had to confront my anxieties around this different kind of travel (for me). I went to multiple travel clinic appointments, conferenced with my GI doctor, and talked to some PA friends. What I am sure of is that there are many differing opinions on the matter of what works and what doesn't, so I'm prepared for the worst but really hopeful that I won't experience anything too crazy.

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  The Art of Selection

As I sift through my belongings, I realize that packing is not just about what I need, but also about what I want to bring along on this journey. I choose each item envisioning a story, a memory, or a sense of comfort that it might bring or be a part of. The tunic I inherited from my friend Anna that she wore to her brother's engagement party back home. The journal that’s nearly full and begging for its final pages, and my bandanas that will cover my messy hair in the Indian summer.

This part feels like a quiet rite of passage. It’s a moment to pause and ask: what actually matters? Do I need that third pair of shoes? Can I wash things there? (Yes.) In the end, I packed about ten outfits for the month. Just enough to mix, match, and make it work. There’s freedom in less. Space to move. Space to pick something up along the way.

I’ll admit, my luggage may be light on clothes, but it’s very heavy on meds (lol).

As I closed my suitcase today, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I have not only packed for a one-and-a-half-month trip but have also engaged in a mindfulness practice. In this way, packing becomes a metaphor for life itself, reminding me to take inventory more. To carefully sort what might stay and go. And, we often carry too much anyway, both physically and emotionally, so it's a good reminder to let things go sometimes. By learning to let go and embrace simplicity, we open ourselves up to the richness of new experiences. So here’s to packing for India, and to the journey of discovery that will surely come along with it. I cannot wait to share the food, the language, the sites, and the culture!

Vaṇakkam!

MB