What do you carry?

Simplify, simplify, simplify. We hear that a lot these days. And it can mean many things from downsizing our homes to cutting down our activities.

It means to engage the letting go process—in so many areas of life. I like to think of my stage of life as a time to clarify what's truly important to me. By now I have a pretty good idea of the things I value most. But I haven't always shed or let go of some of the nonessentials. That's just as important as clarifying what's essential to me.

One question that keeps arising for me these days is: What am I carrying? Again, that can mean physical things—perhaps I really do have too much "stuff" and need to carry less of it around. After all, our stuff can own us after a while rather than the other way around, particularly when we consider the time we spend tending to it, cleaning it up, worrying about it, storing it, etc.

But even beyond that, what things am I carrying inside that I no longer need? Am I carrying anger, resentments, old tales, drama that's gotten attached to some life events, pain, old ideas that no longer work (if ever they really did!)? So what am I carrying? That's one question. The next question is: What do I truly need? What's essential?

How would you answer those questions?