Invariably, when I pack for a trip, often I am reminded of a monologue by stand-up comedian George Carlin.

Carlin’s language is sometimes a bit risqué, but his message is, as my friend Cary Stockett says, “spot on.”

The particular monologue I am referring to is the one in which Carlin talks about “stuff.”

He starts out by claiming that the only reason we have houses is to “hold our stuff,” and he continues by claiming when these homes of ours become crowded with our “stuff,” we choose to either get a bigger house, or “rent storage for our stuff.”

Obviously, he takes great liberty in carrying on about how there is a whole industry based on storing “stuff.”

But what really hit home with me in the monologue is when Carlin starts musing about when you go on vacation, and you have to pack up some of your “stuff.”

Deciding what “stuff” I am going to pack is always a challenge as well as how much “stuff” to pack.

Everyone in my family is well aware of how hard this is for me, so I decided that I would just wear it as a badge of honor that I carry a lot of “stuff” when I travel.

Just my hair and face products can fill up a suitcase.

And last year when I downsized my ride, I was worried there would not be enough room for all my “stuff” when we traveled.

I was right. There have actually been occasions when hubby and I have had to travel in two separate vehicles just to get all the “stuff” there.

This week brought on a completely new level of worry about “stuff.”

A trip was planned to Texas, and for the first time in quite a while, we decided to fly.

So you know what this meant. I was going to have to first, figure out how in the world to get my “stuff” into one bag, and second, that the “stuff” in the suitcase could weigh no more than 50 pounds.

Those hair and face products of mine nearly max out that weight limit!

With a lot of discernment, I finally derived at what “stuff” could go and what “stuff” would have to stay behind, and when I crawled in bed the night before the trip, I realized how much more I would probably enjoy traveling if I didn’t have to worry about “stuff.”

It is nice to have all the creature comforts of home when on the road, but I thought there might be some value in learning to let go of always having to depend on my “stuff.”

Therefore, next time when heading out of town, I will think seriously about cutting back on the “stuff’” I pack.

It just won’t be the hair and face products!

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer at The Vicksburg Post. Readers are invited to submit their opinions for publication.