Imagine setting off on a grand adventure, carrying only what fits in a small bundle. What would you pack?
I love my red spotted kerchief. It takes me back to childhood fairy tales and nursery rhymes. In those stories, the hero would often set out on their journey with nothing but the essentials tied in a kerchief, suspended from a stick.
It speaks to a deep-seated part of the human psyche – the part that yearns for adventure, for new horizons, for the courage to step into the unknown.
In American culture, this bundle is called a "bindle," beautifully captured in Norman Rockwell's painting of The Runaway.
Years later, I lived out my own version of this fairy tale. I packed my – considerably larger – rucksack and set off for my first real adventure in South America. Oh, the freedom, the excitement! As I frequently like to remind my poor children, this was before the days of the internet, let alone smartphones.
Nobody knew where I was. Often I didn’t know where I was either!
And I loved it.
Armed with only a dog-eared South American Handbook, I had just the vaguest idea of where I was heading.
Yet, I was always alright, just as I was, wherever I was.
To pack a knapsack is to say, "I am ready to face whatever comes my way. I am prepared to leave behind what I know and step into the unknown."
Adventure Calling.
The knapsack is a powerful symbol of self-reliance and bravery. It represents the call to adventure that resides in all of us. It speaks to that part of our soul that longs to explore, to discover, to transform.
In our modern lives, we may not literally pack a bindle and hit the road, but we face our own calls to adventure:
- Starting a new job or career
- Moving to a new city
- Ending or beginning a relationship
- Learning a new skill
- Making a difficult decision that changes the course of our lives
Each of these is, in its own way, an adventure that requires the courage symbolized by the knapsack.
So, the next time you face a challenge or a crossroads in your life, picture yourself tying your metaphorical knapsack, gathering your courage, and stepping out into the unknown.
Remember, the knapsack carries only the essentials. What are the essential qualities you need for your journey? Resilience? Optimism? Determination? Pack these in your imaginary bindle.
Your knapsack is waiting. What adventure will you choose?
As the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland said, "Don't just do something, stand there!" Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to pause our normal activity. To step off and away from the usual merry-go-round of life.
To think about what we really want, gather our courage, and then step forward into the unknown.
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