Trove — A Brief Review

TROVE: INTRODUCTION from TROVE on Vimeo.

The Trove wallet is a nice new minimalist wallet. The folks there were nice enough to send me one to review. I’ve actually spent the last month or so carrying it around as my full time wallet — replacing the one I have carried for years now.

In that time it has performed well and still looks as good as new. It is attractive and casually professional. It’s available is a iety of colors. I chose the “Autumn” colorway which is black elastic with chocolate ant toffee brown leather.

The concept is a simple one, executed very well. A band of elastic with a leather loop in the middle that cradles up to 10 cards and provides for a way to slip in a couple of business cards or a few bills cash on the opposite side. It’s also reversible so that one could have a way to slip such items on the outside of the wallet as an option. It’s best to watch the video embedded above to get a sense of what I’m talking about here.

If I were to take any issue with it, it is no fault of theirs, it is mine. If you know anything at all about me it is that I live very intentionally and work to hard to carry only that which I really need. This is especially true of something I carry all day every day. The truth is, I actually need to carry a couple of more cards than this is designed to hold. I pushed the Trove past this limit, and as such it made it difficult to get cards out and to finger my way to the one I needed. If I removed a couple of cards from the total, it was not an issue. So, while the Trove actually performed very well as advertised, it is just a bit too small for my needs.

That said, if you are in the market for a minimalist front-pocket wallet that looks good and the capacity fits your needs, this is a very nice option. It would make a great gift too. Check it out.

Applying Light Packing to Light Living

As many know, I’m a light packer for most trips. I recently returned from a trip where I didn’t need to go as light as I usually do and therefore did not. What I found was that there were a few pieces that I brought with me and ended up not wearing. Not for any particular reason — just an extra sweater and an extra pair of pants that I just ended up not needing. It caused me to question whether I really needed either of these items at all.

Here’s the thing about packing light, it’s about more than being able to take only what you need in order to carry less and move fast. It’s not just about knowing what you really need (versus what you think you need) while on the road. It should also help you evaluate the truth of what you need most days at home too. Because, if you can live out of one bag for a week or more while on the road, with some minor additions there is little reason you could not live with the same amount all the time.

For instance, here’s a guy who travels with one backpack all over the world full time. There is no reason he can’t do the same if all of that were in one box and he lived in the same place.

I know some people have jobs that require them to have wardrobe or other items that are a bit more than others. I get that such an idea in not for everyone. I’m also not arguing everyone should live out of one bag. What I am saying is that there is likely little reason why many couldn’t do so. I’m also saying that if you have developed the skill of packing light when you travel, perhaps you could use that as a starting point to apply the same intentions when you are stationary.

If you like this post, you’ll also like my latest book — This Could Help. Buy it today in Paperback, ePub, or Kindle

Just One Thing

My little girl, Beatrix, has many unique and endearing qualities. But, one of my favorites is this: With almost everyone she meets, she will notice and pick out one thing she likes and then tell them.

“I like your dress.”

“That’s a pretty necklace you’re wearing”

“You have a nice smile.”

“You are very handsome.”

We are currently on a trip that is partly research for a future book and part vacation. Because of the sorts and frequency of encounters we have with people we have not met or only deal with in passing, I’ve had the occation to notice how much she does this. And I am always giddy at seeing the delight of these people, completely disarmed by the perceptiveness and charm of a six year old. One who always finds something nice to say about everyone.

She does this on her own and without prompting from either of us. It is not something we have explicitly or implicitly taught her to do. Nor does she see us do it with such frequency. Especially not with complete strangers or during transactional interactions (i.e store clerks, wait staff, etc.) as she almost always does. It’s just who she is.

It has occurred to me how much better everything might be if we all found one thing with everyone we meet and said something nice about it or them. Even (or especially) those times it is most hard to find something. For instance, someone we disagree with or someone we don’t particularly like.

It also has occurred to me that, in order to practice this regularly one must be fully present in their encounters. You can’t pay partial attention to the checkout person while rustling for your credit cards. You have to be fully present with them to notice the nice earrings they are wearing or the spectacular color of their eyes. And, if you are more present with everyone you meet, you are also more present in that moment with yourself.

That said, I aim to take a lesson from my daughter and do so more often. Not just to make the world a bit better and someone else’s day a bit better but to at the same time make myself a bit better too.

If you like this post, you’ll also like my latest book — This Could Help. Buy it today in Paperback, ePub, or Kindle