Packing With Intention: What Earns a Place in My Carry-On

There was a time when packing for a trip meant anxiety disguised as preparation. I would pack the just in case outfits, the ones that never got worn. Multiple pairs of shoes that stayed in the bag the entire trip. Toiletries I brought out of habit rather than need. I would arrive at my destination with a suitcase full of options and leave with most of them untouched. What I thought was being prepared was actually just being unwilling to make decisions in advance.

That is no longer how I travel.