3 Things You Should Take On Every Trip That Won't Fit In Your Suitcase

There are some things that you should take on every trip you take. Some of them won’t even fit in your suitcase, even if you check it. But that’s okay, because they are easy to carry-on and make a big difference!

Whenever I travel, I make sure I have the right mindset, because if you don’t, when things go wrong or are a bit of an inconvenience, you can just start to spiral. Nobody wants to deal with your crash out when they are just trying to do their job, or are mid-crisis too. So, here are the 3 things you need in your travel arsenal:

This rental car was miniscule, but the actual problem was that I could not get it back in automatic mode, no matter what, so I just learned how to shift while driving around France.

Patience

Listen, you’re going to wait in lines. You’re going to be in places that are more crowded then you would like. There are going to be loud, annoying people. We all hate to endure these things. Maybe the restaurant you chose was understaffed and it took your meal extra long to get to your table. That’s life. It’s not the wait staff’s fault. It’s also nobody’s fault that you are traveling somewhere popular and crowded, or during a particularly busy time. You’re on vacation. You don’t have to work and you don’t have a time schedule. Just breathe and tell yourself it’s okay. 

Did I freak out when I was unable to make my train to get to my Stonehenge tour? No. I was disappointed, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault that the trains were all down due to a freak hurricane-like storm that took down trees all over the city. Did I throw a tantrum because on another trip to London, someone got hit by a train and I couldn’t make my breakfast reservation? No. I just figured out how to call the restaurant and let them know what was happening and to give my reservation away. Things happen. You being crazy is not going to help.

Our flight was late getting to Chicago (ORD), so we ran all the way to our connecting gate, only to find out our next flight was delayed. Sweaty and tired for no reason.

Kindness

The mom in front of you trying to wrangle her kid(s) and the stroller and her bags all on her own is doing her best. The counter staff dealing with angry passengers whose flights were delayed is just doing her job. The waiter who forgot your straw, because he has twice as many tables as usual, is trying to not fall apart. Being kind to people is the least you can do in almost any situation. Everyone’s life is hard sometimes. You don’t need to add to it. 

Besides, you have the privilege to travel and try new things and eat new foods and meet new people. That’s amazing. If you frame it that way, and not like things are happening to you and making your life inconvenient, you’ll be a lot more cheerful, even when things go wrong. Sometimes, a smile goes a long way and can help someone else get through and release some stress, too.

Missed a flight, so made the best of it by getting some food and entertaining ourselves by streaming a movie. The GoDesk is perfect for use as a table at the airport.

Compromise

Again, not everything is going to go perfectly all the time. Will you miss a connection? Maybe. Will something happen that you can’t make it to a dinner reservation? Sometimes. It’s not what happens, but how you deal with it. When we couldn’t make it to Stonehenge, we went to a local park instead and marveled at that beauty. When we were going to miss our breakfast reservation at a restaurant in The Shard, we just stopped a local breakfast place and had a more budget-friendly, but still delicious meal. 

When we had our car window smashed and luggage stolen, we just called who we needed to call to report the crime, then had a very calm conversation with the airline staff person to help us get another flight, since we missed the one we were booked on. Did we have to go a different way and get home later? Yes. Was it the end of the world? No. By the time we got home, w were so happy to crawl into our own bed, though. Life happens, even on vacation. You just roll with it and realize that not everything is in your control, but what is in your control, is how you respond to it. 

Don’t ruin your own trip by being an impatient jerk. You don’t have to smile, but you can be kind, give people grace, be grateful you get to travel when so many don’t, and enjoy every win you get. 

What would you add to this list?

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