(A fictional essay based upon events in my life. Written for my English Comp class.)
The other day a friend and I were out together. At one point, I asked him to pass my backpack. He casually hooked a finger under one of the straps and attempted to lift it. Then, swallowing his male pride, he grabbed it with both hands and managed to pick it up. “My God,” he grunted as he handed it to me. “Do you really need to carry that much stuff?”
I considered his question. “Actually, yes, I do.”
He scoffed, but I use almost everything in my backpack daily. I play many different roles in my life: mother, wife, employee, student, and woman are a few. Each role has its own Stuff Requirement, and I do not usually have the luxury of stopping home to repack for whichever one I think I will be playing next. Too often, I am playing multiple roles at once.
Everyone carries Stuff. Although the roles are different, and requirements vary, we all need certain things to get through our day when we are away from home. The preferred Stuff Carrier might be a backpack, purse, briefcase, pocket, fanny pack, vehicle, shopping cart, etc. No matter what Stuff we need, or how we carry it, I have noticed Stuff We Carry tends to fall into six basic categories.
Essential Stuff
First, there is Essential Stuff. These are the bare minimum requirements, and in our world today you won’t get too far without them. Losing even one of these items can cause total chaos. Often this Stuff is carried in pockets.
My glasses, cell phone, keys, ID, and debit/credit card are the five things I cannot leave home without. George Carlin once listed his Essential Stuff as “money, keys, comb, wallet, lighter, hankie, pen, cigarettes, contraceptives, Vaseline, whips, chains, whistles, dildos, and a book”. Of course, everyone’s Essential Stuff will be different.
Personal Stuff
Next, there is Personal Stuff. This category consists of health/hygiene/appearance items. Whether it is a comb, lip balm, tissue pack, gum, makeup, medication, nail clipper, hand sanitizer, condom, or any of a million other possibilities, most people carry at least one item in this category. This Stuff makes us feel good, healthy, or secure with ourselves. Even magazines and advertisers tell us so. Well, at least it helps.
Addiction Stuff
Another important category for many, including myself, is Addiction Stuff. Addictions are different for everyone, and often people have more than one. It may be caffeine, chocolate, music, newspapers, nicotine, novels, stock reports, texting, video games, etc. These are the things that we use to fill the (too many) hurry-up-and-wait times, or (never enough) free times during the day. We really could manage to get through the day without this Stuff, but an addict can’t imagine trying.
Official Stuff
Then there is Official Stuff. This is often the category of Stuff We Carry that takes up the most space. Many of us have small filing cabinets called wallets that contain Important Things. These often contain innumerable cards for banks, store discounts, medical information, insurance, licenses, and more. We do not use these every day, but if we do not have them, we will inevitably need them.
In addition, we carry Stuff that makes us at least seem to be in control of our lives. Some examples could include pens, to-do lists, addresses, notepads, and personal papers. Personal papers themselves usually fit into two categories. Some papers Need Attention such as bills to pay, correspondence awaiting reply, or forms to fill out. Others are To Be Filed someday including documents and receipts.
Work Stuff and School Stuff are also categorized here. Depending on your individual requirements (tools, equipment, electronics, folders, paperwork, textbooks, references, etc.), this Stuff often quickly adds weight. For this reason, some people choose Stuff Containers with wheels.
Trash
The only category of Stuff We Carry that we do not need is Trash. A perfectly organized person has no trash in their Stuff. The rest of us, however, carry around useless receipts, business cards we will never use, pamphlets handed to us, empty wrappers we chose not to throw on the ground, lists of things already done, old notes, etc.
Some things are Obviously Trash and should be thrown out right away. Others are Probably Trash, but may turn out to be Important Things as soon as they are thrown out. Many people choose to keep them, just in case.
There are endless other sources of Trash in our Stuff. If left unchecked, Trash will reproduce. If you choose not to occasionally remove all Trash from your Stuff, please at least be responsible and spay or neuter.
Survival Stuff
Finally, Survival Stuff is a category that should always be included. I am not talking about a tent, compass, and emergency flares. I am referring to a few items that could come in handy in various unplanned daily situations. The inventory can be as simple or as complicated as potential need and space allows. Small, multi-functional items work best.
Caution should be used with this category, however. There is no way to plan for everything. Attempting to do so will potentially result in bodily injury trying to lug too much of this Stuff around.
In my case, a small snack in my backpack helps keep me going when someone else’s “emergency” causes me to miss a meal between role changes. Wet-wipes and safety pins have many uses, and have become some of my necessary gear.
Just the other day, having my multi-tool, lighter, and little flashlight really saved not only my butt, but that of an unprepared and impressed former Boy Scout. This former Boy Scout was the friend who had asked only two hours earlier if I really needed all of my Stuff. I believe my point was well made. Good thing I had my stuff.
