I checked a bag

The day I’d been eagerly awaiting finally arrived: my first day of Thanksgiving break. The school feast went great, the dog was boarded, I caught an Uber to the airport, and I breezed through security—even though my Real ID still hadn’t arrived.

At the gate, the agent suggested one small change that made me pause: “Want to check your bag?” I haven’t checked a bag in years. Somewhere along the way, I decided that waiting at baggage claim and paying bag fees were inconveniences to avoid at all costs.

But that choice created a different kind of inconvenience. I started obsessing over packing smaller and tighter. On trips to Chicago, I’d count on doing laundry at my mother-in-law’s house. Some of that was fine, but today I had to ask myself: Why am I working this hard to be comfortable in one area if it makes me uncomfortable in another?

The honest answer? I didn’t want to wait. Yet waiting is a normal part of life. In my rush to be “efficient,” I wasn’t present. So today, I checked my bag—and it felt great.

The point: Sometimes choosing a small, predictable inconvenience (waiting a few extra minutes at baggage claim) buys you a lot of comfort, ease, and presence everywhere else. Checking the bag wasn’t just about luggage; it was about giving myself permission to slow down and enjoy the trip.

Your turn: Where in your life are you clinging to “efficiency” that’s actually costing you peace—and what’s one “bag” you could choose to check this week?