People often ask me this. And since i've never really given them a decent answer, my comfort buddy has been subject to hilarious wild guesses. Some say i have bars of gold in it, a pet cat, or a mini grocery store 😅. "You're goin to school?" always gives me a good laugh.
To begin the revelation, my backpack is one of the most important belongings i have but it contains 'not so important' things. Just few essentials i keep handy to make life a bit more convenient and to save myself from certain situations.
The list goes this way:
●journal/ pencil/ pen : fact is I love pens and notebooks. There's a seasonal writer in me that i can't tell when i am going to write so having a journal all the time is a must. I usually jot down important dates, appointments, random thoughts, a cute movie phrase, a good blog title for future use. Or whenever i get this sudden artistic impulse i really just have to sketch or doodle down. Anytime. Anywhere. It's a great way to pass time.
●Phone: for calls, sms, and the map! for i am worst at navigation. In my home city I cannot even memorize streets or i don't know the right jeepney to take to go somewhere so this tool helps a lot. It's very essential for emergency situation, keeps you updated in this digital world, and my playlist saves me from boredom of course. Moreover i also use my phone for alarms and memos.
●Water bottle: hydrate hydrate. Especially in this country when summer is really hot and winter is dry. I usually carry a liter with me so it's by far the heaviest object in my backpack.
●Books: or anything readable e.g: mags, brochures, pocketbooks. Not that i read them, but i always make sure i carry one in case i need to avoid social interaction that i can just pretend i'm busy reading something and avoid being bothered. It's a life saver!
●Lighter: in case i need to burn something down 😆. Kidding aside, i learned to bring one all the time because back in the Philippines the friends and i would sometimes go on sudden long trips. And we really love to eat, but usually we had to make food traditional style esp when the place was far from civilization and there's no access to electricity. We had to make fire using lighter in order to cook, to make bonfire, etc.
●extra pair of clothes: Now i'm in another country as an ofw, i don't bring extra clothes anymore because my uniform is just comfortable as it is and we actually rarely go out. But back in the Philippines when we went to places unplanned or when i was suddenly invited for a sleepover, having extra clothes ready was a great relief making the overnight stay more comfortable.
●lollipops/chocolates: in times of hypoglycemic attack, sweets save the day. But regardless of my blood sugar level, i always carry a stick or two because i've always had this fondness of sweets since i was little esp for lollipops. I don't realy have to eat them. Just the feel of them in my pocket or knowing i have plenty in my bag makes me feel nothing can get in the way.
●instant coffee: when i can't stand hypoglycemia anymore, it's my next line of defense when hunger strikes, or when i snooze in the middle of work. I am such a big sleepyhead.
●First aid kit: A clumsy human that i am, i'm prone to falls, i bump or i get cuts and bruises. Therefore a brownie girl scout should always carry band aide, plaster, povidone iodine, otc meds, etc.
●Sanitary pads: for the sake of myself and all women out there who always ask "do you have a napkin?" in times of untimely menstrual periods because why don't they keep it handy all the time.
●Floss: oral hygiene.
●Isoprophyl: because i love the smell of alcohol it feels so clean.
●IDs: i have really poor sense of direction that i know for sure i could get lost anytime so i make sure i have id cards to present to a police station or when people might mistaken me as an alien at least i have a human identification proof to show.
●Cash: if money were no object my backpack would most probably be full of stuff. But everything just costs, material or non material, so money is a standby.
My backpack is something i value quite a lot. Wherever i go as long as i have it, i feel secure and comfortable. Sometimes there's a dozen other stuff that i add, that's why when people ask what's in my backpack, it's Irish stuff i say.
