A Coelacanth with a suitcase as a reminder to live lightly

Ingrid Lotze recently received a birthday gift that felt like a manifestation of everything she loves and aspires to. It is a pottery sculpture of a coelacanth with a suitcase on its back and snorkeling gear ready to go. For her, this isn’t just any piece of art, it’s an embodiment of her dreams, passions, and values all in one place.

A coelacanth is a living fossil, a creature from the deep that many thought was extinct until its rediscovery. This specific coelacanth carries a suitcase, symbolising travel and readiness for new adventures, which Ingrid values deeply. It wears snorkeling gear, reminding her of her love for scuba diving and the dream to swim with these ancient creatures in Jesser Canyon, off the coast of Sodwana.

This sculpture also speaks to the unknown waiting to be explored, but it also speaks to something else—the art of holding on lightly.

Holding on lightly is more than just minimalism

Anyone who follows the 7 t-shirts each journey knows that we talk about the concept of “No space for just in case.” We don’t live with fewer possessions for the sake of minimalism, but to make space for what brings us joy, meaning, and functionality. It’s not about avoiding beautiful things, but about choosing what truly matters in this season of life and being willing to let go when the time is right.

This birthday gift could easily become a cherished keepsake, a piece that Ingrid would want to hold onto forever. And yet, this gift is a reminder that holding on lightly allows for more freedom, even with items we adore. There is no need to cling to the sculpture for it to have meaning; it can bring joy and inspiration for as long as it is chosen to be part of their life, and maybe one day, Ingrid will get even more joy from letting it go by gifting it to someone else to inspire them. 

The joy of living lightly

The Coelacanth’s suitcase symbolises so much more than travel for Ingrid — it speaks to readiness, adaptability, living with intention, bringing joy and color into life, and the lightness of not carrying too much. It’s a beautiful reminder that life is best experienced when we embrace things with an open hand, savoring them without becoming attached or weighed down.

A call to lightness

Accumulating “just in case” items is the norm in today's times. Living lightly on the other hand is a choice we make not only about the things we choose and have in our lives, but also the people and experiences we choose. We are invited to enjoy what we have and do without allowing them to define us or tie us down. 

Maybe this piece of art is adored because in some way we’re all a little like that Coelacanth with a suitcase, swimming through life, and the most helpful thing to do is to carry only what we truly need.

There’s a shouty invitation to all of us written in all caps: TREAD LIGHTLY IN THE WORLD. Cherish what you love, but leave space for the unexpected. Enjoy each moment, each treasure, each connection, and when it’s time, be willing to let go so that someone else may enjoy it too. 

Living lightly isn’t just a way to manage possessions; it’s a mindset that brings resilience, freedom, and room for whatever comes next.

#Minimalism #Nospaceforjustincase #CarryLessLiveMore #Agility #LetItgo #livinglightly #7TShirtsEach #NomadicLifestyle #Nomadcouple Gavin Moffat