What do I carry?

I carry numerous essential items with me on a daily basis. These may not be nearly as essential as the items carried by the soldiers in The Things They Carried, but they are important to me.

As far as tangible items, I would usually carry at least my cell phone and wallet. I guess I’ll begin with the cell phone:

My cell phone allows me to communicate in case I am ever in an emergency situation. This is probably the most important use of the phone. I can also complete most tasks on my phone that I would normally do on my computer (Internet, email, etc….)

Wallet:

Nothing is free anymore. Money is a necessity. Important uses include purchasing food, water, and if I am really in need of shelter, I could stay at a hotel. Besides money, my wallet contains important identification that I may also need to use. For example, if stopped by the police or a some other federal agent, you might as well not be a citizen of the U.S. without proper documentation, such as a drivers license.

Not all items I carry with me are tangible. Most of them I carry with me mentally all of the time. The stress of being a success in life is a big one. I really have no proper method of defining success, therefore, this creates even more stress; not knowing if I am right or wrong. I also carry the family name. I need to prove myself as a useful member of society. If I don’t, I will be an embarrassment to the rest of my family and myself.

The one emotion that I carry with me that bears the greatest weight is my future. I have no idea how my future will pan out. This troubles me greatly. I like being aware of what is to come. This creates a sort of uncertainty. Although many people my age and in my current position also face the threat of uncertainty, it bothers me nonetheless. In a way, this links to my responsibilities. I am responsible to go to college, get a job, and become a “success”.

In my opinion, the weight of an object does not correlate to its importance. This can especially be seen in the intangible items listed above. They hold no specific weight, but they weigh the most mentally. No emotion can be given a defined weight, and emotions are the most important item I carry.

For example, as stated above, the most important item I carry is my responsibilities as a person. Unlike my cell phone and wallet, the intangible items cannot be replaced if they were taken away from me. I could always get a new wallet or a new cell phone. However, I can never replace my responsibility if I don’t prove myself and people lose faith in me.

In conclusion, it is the intangible emotions that weigh most heavily on me. Most importantly, it is the irreplaceable that ultimately will force me to comply with what society asks of me.