"Bag lady you gone hurt your back
Dragging all them bags like that
I guess nobody ever told you...all you must hold onto
Is you, is you, is you..."
Are you a bag lady? As I walked to a meeting this morning, I thought about my typical routine. Normally, I would take my purse and work bag for my laptop...and walk one mile across campus with all of this stuff...weighing me down. Why, you ask? Well...it turns out that I am a bag lady.
I don't know how long I've been a bag lady...but what I do know is that today...I had a revelation. Today, I chose to leave all of those bags behind. The only items I carried to my meeting were my iPhone and wallet. As I walked down Halsted Street, Erykah Badu's song, Bag Lady, immediately came to mind. In that moment, as I walked down the street on this cold winter day, I began thinking about how light and free I felt. I also thought about the level of stress that I have experienced lately.
A number of events have transpired since the beginning of 2018. It's been a balancing act. I wear multiple hats and carry countless bags: mom, companion, professional, friend and any other hat that I need to wear for the day. In addition to wearing multiple hats, did I mention that I carry matching bags! The one bag that I can't seem to put down is the planning bag. If my memory serves me correctly, it seems that I have this unexplainable need to have everything planned. I require a plan for every facet of my life.
I have come to realize that by planning multiple aspects of my life, I lack flexibility. At times, I am slow to compromise or to take alternative approaches to achieving goals. Some may say that I can be a little particular...or rigid. My counter argument is that my method has worked all of this time, so why change now. Well...when you get to the point where you're unable or unwilling to exhibit flexibility, you begin to develop emotions that will weigh you down; which often results in carrying bags of hurt, shame, guilt, or fear.
I am sure that I am not the only one who has carried numerous bags. Can you relate? If so, ask yourself, when am I going to unload these bags? Better yet, ask yourself, how can I unload these bags? If you don't unload those bags, you will become stagnant. This is not an option. You're goal is to grow and expand your horizons and shine.
It's time for you to realize that...
"One day all them bags gon' get in your way
One day all them bags gon' get in your way
I said one day all them bags gon' get in your way
One day all them bags gon' get in your way, so pack light..."
If you need a little inspiration on how to unload those bags and give up your role of being a Bag Lady, listen to Ms. Erykah Badu. I guarantee, she will get your mind right and you will adjust your crown, queen!