At our Travel Information Evening, between the maps, slideshows and trip chatter, something unexpected happened – Danielle took the stage. Introduced as a personal trainer who runs her own community-minded gym, Fierce Fitness Toowoomba, she’s someone who knows a thing or two about carrying weight – both literal and figurative.
Instead of talking sets and reps, Danielle shared a reflection that perfectly captures the tug-of-war we all face between overpacking our backpacks (and our lives) with ‘what ifs’ and leaving space for joy, curiosity, and wonder.
It’s about hiking, yes – but it’s also about life, travel, and saying yes to possibilities. So grab a cuppa, settle in, and enjoy her words. They might just inspire you to rethink what you’re packing – not only for your next adventure, but for your one wild and precious life.
Embracing Possibilities & Packing for this One, Wild and Precious Life
First-time hikers, (and many others for that matter)
Have a tendency to overpack.
It is said:
“You pack your fears.”
All the things you think you MAY need—
but never actually use—
becomes the weight you carry.
Mile after mile,
Step after step…
You’re forced to haul around the burden
of All the ‘what-ifs’,
All the ‘just-in-cases’
And every other imagined
‘worse-case-scenario’
But what if we started packing differently?
Living, differently, for that matter?
No longer out of FEAR—
but out of TRUST?
What if,
instead of preparing for every possible future disaster,
We left a bit more room?
Room for growth?
Room for wonder?
And room for all the unexpected beauty awaiting us on the trail?
There’s something freeing
about learning the difference between:
what you think you’ll NEED
and
what you’ll actually REQUIRE.
What if we could let go of the:
“worst-case-scenario” mindset
And instead, start asking,
“What if it ALL turns out okay?”
In the wise words of John Lennon,
“In the end, everything will be okay.
If it’s not okay,
it’s not the end!”
What if we could open ourselves up the idea of leaving a bit more space?
Space in our packs?
Space in our minds?
And Space in our hearts?
Space for Curiosity over dread
For Presence over projection
And for JOY over suffering
Because most of our suffering
isn’t in the actual moment itself,
But rather,
in the all imagined stories we spin around our reality—
Stories of scarcity,
Stories of self-doubt,
Of Unworthiness,
And of rejection
Stories that paralyse us with fear
But rarely ever come true.
Sure, bad things may happen.
Of course,
there’ll be moments that shake us to our core.
I suppose if we came to this earth looking for safety
for security
Or for nothing to ever change—
Sadly, we came to the wrong planet!
Because after almost 50 years of
traveling this winding, trail called LIFE—
I’ve accepted the fact that—
No amount of packing
Or preparation
Will ever be enough to shield our hearts from breaking
It’s just a matter
of if we allow it to break us wide open
Or
To completely shut us down
So what’s the point in wasting our lives
lying to ourselves?
Clinging to the illusion that somehow
we can remain untouched by life’s tragedies
Fooling ourselves into believing
It’s actually my personal,
white-knuckled-grip on the armrest keeping the dam airplane in the sky?
Or that somehow,
MY level anxiety is directly related to assuring a terrible event won’t occur?
Unfortunately,
It just doesn’t work like that.
My point?
When the unknown arrives—
as it ‘only always’ does—
Will we meet it with resistance…
OR with OPENNESS ?
With dread…
OR with the quiet courage allowing it to transform us?
As human beings,
We can’t control much.
But we DO have a choice in
how we respond a situation.
The more we reject reality
The more we are choosing to suffer.
So…
When we arrive at to end of a long trip
And hopefully our lives…
Instead of viewing all the unforeseen
turns, bumps, bruises and detours
as some sort of comic mistakes…
Could we rather view them as
stretch-marks on a heart well-lived?
As proof of our expansion?
Of our growth?
Of evidence of a life experienced to the fullest?
So from today onwards
May we be changed
May we question the necessity of what we are cramming into our packs…
(Perhaps, less really IS more)
And could we have a look honest at how we are really filling up our days?
Maybe we could free up a bit more space for the ALL the unforeseen beauties?
Room for life’s unexpected delights
No one ever pack for
Or have predict?
And above all—
While we are still here,
While we are still able,
Legs kicking and hearts beating…
May we be willing to say ‘YES’.
‘YES’ to infinite possibilities!
‘YES’ to staying open & curious
to the immense wonders
this world has on offer.
And in the words of Mary Oliver,
May we FULLY embrace
Our one WILD and PRECIOUS life?
~dbg
Lighten the Load, Inside and Out
If Danielle’s words resonated with you, it won’t surprise you to hear that she brings the same thoughtful, down-to-earth approach to her work as a life coach. Blending movement with mindset, she offers ‘walk and talk’ sessions or training combined with coaching – the perfect way to lighten both your backpack and your mental load.
It’s about leaving space for curiosity, clarity, and possibility, while building strength inside and out. If you’d like to explore how Danielle can support you personally, her coaching packages are a wonderful place to start. <<Click here for more details>>
Packing Light, Travelling Well
At the end of the day, it’s not the extra jumper or ‘just in case’ gadgets that make a journey memorable – it’s the space you leave for surprise encounters, stunning views, and those laugh-till-you-cry moments. That’s exactly what we build into our tours and travel planning. We’ll take care of the fiddly logistics so you can pack light, travel well, and say yes to the unexpected delights along the way. After all, who wants to lug around ‘what ifs’ when you could be collecting ‘remember whens’?
