It’s been 8 months and 8 days since I started my migration. On my trip back to Iran, I convinced Sasan to come along with me and experience new things. A few days before his return flight, he asked me, “What should I take with me?”

So, what should you take? What are the most important things in your life?

A few t-shirts, a couple of pants, shoes, a backpack that no longer carried my MacBook because I had sold it to cover my military expenses, with the rest spent on a migration ticket. A phone, maybe a few books or an e-reader, a toothbrush, toothpaste, special shampoo because other shampoos make your hair fall out. A razor, a planner for jotting down physical notes, a jacket, a suit and tie for formal events, sandals. University documents (which, at least here, are useless), a passport. What else?

In 20, 30, or 40 years of life, what have you gathered that you can carry with you somewhere else?

Good and bad memories. The feeling of joy from helping others, the guilt from the wrongs you’ve done. The experience of sleeping in a 6-square-meter room during military service with 4 other people. The ability to endure extreme psychological pressure learned during that service. The strength to handle loneliness. A blog where you record your new experiences. A family that worries about you and reminds you with every call that if you ever run out of money, they’ve got your back like a mountain. A sister whose very presence, even from afar, gives you the certainty you won’t fail.

If you see and are grateful, you are never alone.

Read more:
- Symphony of Migration
- Why and How to Let Go?
- Don’t Want, and You’ll Be Free
- 10+1 Reasons Why You Should Move On