Backpack Inventory

In the pursuit of a minimalist lifestyle, I have compacted and reduced my everyday items into a 23-lb package. The following list contains the items and their uses:

-Audio converter cable.  This allows for a more public use of my mp3 player or laptop while traveling without requiring me to carry bulky speakers.
-Business cards.  Who knows when I might meet someone interesting or in need of my services?
-Cash.  Always keep a bit in case of emergency.
-Chargers.  For my laptop, phone, and whatever else might need one.
-Checkbook.  This sort of doubles as a wallet and carries important documents if I need them.
-Clothes.  Enough for three days.  Socks, underwear, shirts, swimming trunks, and pajama pants.
-Comb.  For those bad hair days.
-Dental floss.  Useful for dental hygiene, some repairs, and escaping from mutated sea bass.
-Deodorant. 
-Duct tape pen.  It's a pen with duct tape wrapped around it.  It comes in handy more often than one might expect.
-Earplugs.  Sometimes, it's nice to be able to filter out background noise. 
-Eyedrops.  It pays when you have allergies and/or contacts.
-First aid supplies.  A few adhesive bandages and some antibiotic ointment will go a long way.  I also include a Twinject Pen (like an EpiPen) and an albuterol inhaler for allergy and asthma emergencies.
-Gift cards.  I used to lose gift cards a lot, or forget them in drawers.  Carrying them has helped for food a few times in a bind, and the cards are used like they were meant to be.
-Glasses.  A handy backup for the contacts.
-Handwipes.  These have dramatically increased the quality of my life during train trips, car rides, and plane flights. Clean your hands and face, as well as other minor messes.
-Hot sauce.  In particular, I carry Dave's Insanity Sauce.  It can spice up any meal with just a drop.  It is also a handy treatment for itching and can relieve toothaches.  Be sure that it is secured in a bag, however.
-Krazy glue.  This is useful for making all kinds of on-the-go repairs.
-Lappy.  Certainly not required, and adds a something like 30% more weight.  I do like my lappy, though, and take it most places with me.
-Leather cleaner.  An all-purpose cleaner for your footwear can help you look fresh and neat.  It makes security less suspicious and you'll feel less gross in general, especially if you step in some mud on the way in.
-Lens cleaners.  In case the glasses get dirty.
-Lip balm. 
-Lighter.  I don't take this onto planes, obviously, but it's always handy for camping, bonfires, and fixing loose threads.
-Medication.  I carry any medication that I take with me at all times, in original prescription bottles.
-Moisturizer.  I have dry skin, so I carry a small tub of moisturizer.
-Nail clippers.  Part of any complete grooming kit.
-Nasal spray.  This and salt to make a saltwater rinse can prevent sinus infections, reduce irritation, flush out allergens and irritants, and that makes them priceless to me.
-Needle & thread.  I take a needle and thread everywhere I go.  Basic sewing skills and supplies have repaired my backpack, shoes, and clothes several times in the last ten months already.
-Passport.  I only bring this with me when I plan on traveling out of the country.  I leave photocopies with my parents and Sister Dear in case of problems.
-Pens & pencils.  Writing and writing instruments can make life much easier.  Use to document your journey, solve math problems, write down directions, entertain yourself by doodling, or perform basic illusions for children.
-Playing cards.  Fun without batteries.
-Pocket torch.  Like the lighter with an exponent attached.
-Pocketknife.  Everyone should have one except when inappropriate.  So forget it in an airport, but still pick up one at your destination.
-Q-tips.  Good for personal grooming and repairs, among other things.
-Razors.  If you shave, it's nice to always have one around.
-Rope (or twine).  Use for repairs, a makeshift clothesline, or to secure something to the outside of your pack.
-Scissors.
-Shampoo packets.  They fit more conveniently than bottles for general travel, and are far less messy.
-Shortwave radio.  These are useful for emergencies away from civilization.
-Snack food.  I usually keep fruit like dried apricots with me.  It's good for an energy boost in a pinch.  That way, you don't have to go completely without.
-Soap.
-Swimsuit.  I love swimming.  These are also a convenient double for shorts if you need them, as well as another pair of pants should something happen to your jeans/khakis/etc.
-Therapy band.  I use these to stretch and do exercises.  I've also wrapped ankles, knees, and wrists in them after an injury. 
-Toilet paper.  It never hurts to have a bit with you.
-Toothpaste & toothbrush.  It's just good hygiene.
-Trash bags.  Use these to keep your trash picked up, your pack dry in the rain, and to keep clean clothes separated from your soiled ones.
-Water bottle.  Nothing fancy, just a regular bottle of water.  When it's empty, refill it!
-Waterproof adhesive.  This is terribly handy.  I end up using mine all the time.  One of my favourites is Shoe Goo, but anything like it will work as long as it will bond to plastic, rubber, wood, and metal and create a flexible, waterproof seal.

I hope to travel the world one day with a similar list. Questions, comments, and suggestions for modifications are welcome. 

Goals

Throughout this blog, I intend to use my own self-learning attempts as examples. I am not always successful in everything that I try, so I have discovered some of the pitfalls myself.

Goals are an important part of education. Without proper and realistic goals, it is easy to push yourself beyond your limits, become frustrated, and quit. Goals help us with motivation and organizing our learning efforts. I break goals down into three main groups: short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals. All three kinds are important to have.

Long-term goals are big. They may be very complex and sometimes take a long time to accomplish. Usually, long-term goals are less detailed plans and more of our hopes and dreams. Learning another language, mastering a branch of math, landing a starring role in a big theatre production, or getting into shape for a triathlon are a few examples of long-term goals. For most of us, these goals will take months or perhaps even years.

Medium-term goals are a little closer to home. When we sit down and look at our long-term goals, the details can be dizzying. Breaking those down into more manageable parts produces shorter long-term goals and medium-term goals. These are the goals that we give ourselves a few weeks or a month to achieve. If I were learning a second language, for example, one medium-term goal might be to master nouns, verbs, and phrases associated with the kitchen and cooking. These goals do not always stick to our schedule. However, they help us further break down what we want to do.

Short-term goals are much more here and now. They are very important for organizing our learning. For example, if a medium-term goal is to learn long division, we have several other things that we have to learn first. At the very least, we must be familiar with the basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Learning or reviewing each of these can be a short-term goal. If you need to work on one of these, break that task down into more short-term goals. Short-term goals rarely last more than a day. They should be fairly short and focused, something that can be accomplished in a sitting or two.

Once you learn how to break a task down into a series of goals, it is easier to see what needs to be done and what resources you will need to make your goals work.

Where to Begin

In my family, learning has always been highly encouraged. School has always been important, as evidenced by the number of teachers I have been related to. Formal education, however, was not the start. We were encouraged to learn about anything that interested us as children. Adult encouragement involved far more than just answering questions. Early on, we established our own methods for learning about the things that interested us.

As I understand it, successful self-education requires several things.

1.) Goals. Know what you are after, and make sure that it is reasonably attainable.

2.) Learning preferences. What is the best way for you to learn? Do you read well? Do you remember sounds, lectures, or rhythms? Do you remember when you do something, or take notes?

3.) Resources. What people and materials are available to help you in learning your subject or skill? How do they match up with your learning preferences?

4.) Time. How much time are you willing to invest in this endeavour?

5.) Positive attitude. You can do this! If you believe that you can master something, you're probably right. If you believe you can't, you're probably right.

Next, we will begin to explore this process by using an example.

Welcome to Learn4aLifetime!

Hello, my name is Dan. My goal in his blog is to share what I know about learning and encourage others to do so for their entire lives. That's right, learning does not begin or end with schooling. Nor should we stop learning just because we grow older or achieve the career we want. I don't know everything, to be sure, but I'm in the game of learning as much as I can about as many subjects as I can.

So let us begin with a few things that I do know.

1.) We learn long before we enter formal training.

2.) Formal training is a tool, not a guarantee, of learning.

3.) After formal training ends, we need to continue to learn to maintain our edge in the market and/or our fields.

4.) Challenging our brains can help keep us mentally young.

5.) Learning can be fun, if you do it right!

Please join me in this pursuit, and feel free invite others as well.