One Bag, Two Warriors and a Football Game: Living “Less Stuff, More Experiences”

The Mission: Fewer Leaves, More Life

It started like most Saturday mornings — the yard glaring at us like an overgrown jungle and the rake giving us that judgmental “you know what you should be doing” look.

But Lee and I had another plan. We grabbed our sandbags (yes, the same ones we haul around for our Mental Health Warrior Workouts at Shippensburg University) and headed for the football stadium instead.

Why? Because ever since we embraced the One Bag Life of a Mental Health Warrior philosophy — “Less Stuff, More Experiences” — our weekends look a whole lot different. We traded clutter for connection, chores for cheers, and stress for sandbags.

And honestly? The trade was worth every yard.

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The Book That Started It All

Before I get to kickoffs and tailgates, let me rewind a bit.

For 20 years, I fought my way through Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders PTSD and a suicide attempt as I felt so powerless. It wasn’t a straight line to recovery — more like a loop-de-loop roller coaster with no seat belt. Out of those battles, the Mental Health Warrior Program was born — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge!

The program grew from a single idea: You’re in charge — not your challenges. From that came books like 53 Mindset Rules of a Mental Health Warrior, Mind Fuel for a Mental Health Warrior, and yes, the focus of today’s story — One Bag Life of a Mental Health Warrior.

That book wasn’t written in a moment of minimalist zen. It was written after I moved (again) and realized I owned more boxes of “stuff I might need someday” than actual days to use it.

So I made a new rule: One bag for stuff, unlimited room for experiences. When Lee read it, she looked at me and said, “Let’s put that into action.”

Which is how we ended up at Shippensburg University — cheering for the Raiders and living our best One Bag Warrior life.

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Three Warrior Benefits

Benefit 1:  An Amazing Experience Beats Raking Leaves Every Time

When you’re at a college football game, you don’t think about the laundry pile or whether the gutters need cleaning. You’re too busy feeling the energy of the crowd, soaking in the sunshine and breathing that crisp fall air that says, “You made the right choice.”

Lee and I watched from the edge of the fence, our sandbags at our feet (because once a Warrior, always a Warrior) and every touchdown felt like a mental health victory. We laughed, cheered and celebrated being fully present — not buried under a to-do list or weighed down by stuff.

Warrior Truth: The yard can wait — your peace of mind can’t. It’s the foundation you need each day to find joy, energy and strength.

Your Turn:

It’s easy to fill weekends with chores that “should” be done. Instead, schedule one experience that feeds your soul, not your to-do list.

• 🎭 Go to a high school game, an open-mic night, or a community theater show.

• 🌅 Take a walk through your town at sunset — no destination, just the experience.

• 🪑 Swap one hour of scrolling for one hour sitting in a park, coffee in hand, watching life happen around you.

Pack light. Leave your list behind. Bring only what you need to be fully there — body, mind and heart.

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Benefit 2: Local Connection Is a Powerful Foundation

There’s something deeply comforting about sitting in a stadium full of people rooting for the same team. The marching band echoes through the stands, the smell of popcorn mixes with crisp autumn air and suddenly you feel like you belong to something bigger than your living room.

For Lee and me, those Saturdays have become anchors. Between our sandbag workouts and the games, we built a rhythm that keeps our mental health steady — a Warrior’s ritual of connection and joy.

And isn’t that what “Less Stuff, More Experiences” is really about? It’s not just clearing out clutter; it’s making space for what matters — connection with others, purpose and belonging.

Your Turn:

Building connection doesn’t have to mean big crowds or fancy plans. The goal is to show up — where life is happening around you.

• 🛍️ Visit a farmers market and talk to the local vendors. Ask them what they’re proud of this season.

• 📚 Drop by a library event or book talk. You might walk out with a new idea and a new friend.

• 🪑 Or simply grab coffee at a local spot and stay off your phone. Be present, smile, listen — the small moments matter.

Remember, Warriors don’t just build inner strength; they build community strength too.

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Benefit 3: Engagement Is a Warrior’s Superpower

You know that moment in the stands when you start talking to the person next to you and suddenly, you’re both celebrating a touchdown like lifelong friends? That’s the magic.

We chatted with students about their majors, laughed with alumni about the “good old days” and even swapped training stories with a former athlete who noticed our sandbags and said, “Wait, you brought those to the game?”

Yep. Warriors don’t travel light — just intentionally.

That’s the heart of the Mental Health Warrior Program. It’s a self-help journey but not a solo mission. Connection is part of the training plan. When we engage with others, we remind ourselves we’re part of a bigger tribe — one that’s rooting for us on and off the field.

Your Turn:

Engagement doesn’t have to be loud or perfect — it just has to be real. Every conversation is a chance to strengthen your Warrior network.

• ☕ Talk with a local business owner or barista. Learn their story and share a bit of yours.

• 🎓 If you live near a school or university, attend a public lecture or sports event — the energy of learning and teamwork is contagious.

• 🐾 Walk your dog at the park and say hello to someone else doing the same. Even small interactions build connection and confidence.

Remember: life isn’t meant to be lived alone and neither is mental health. The more you engage, the stronger your tribe becomes.

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The Warrior Takeaway

Lee and I still carry our bags everywhere — but these days, they’re filled with meaning instead of mess. Our sandbags remind us to stay strong and our One Bag Life reminds us to stay light while enjoying what truly matters.

The One Bag Life of a Mental Health Warrior isn’t just a guide — it’s a challenge: to let go of what weighs you down and fill your life with what lifts you up. Experiences, connection and growth — that’s the real currency of a Warrior life.

So next time you’re staring down a mountain of yardwork or a to-do list that looks like a novel, ask yourself one question: Could this stuff be traded for an experience that fuels my soul?

Because from the 50-yard line of life, I can tell you — it’s worth it.

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Wrap Up

Every time Lee and I walk through those stadium gates with our sandbags slung over our shoulders, we feel the Warrior philosophy in action. We’re lighter, happier and more connected — proof that you don’t need more stuff to build a richer life.

One Bag Life of a Mental Health Warrior reminds us that freedom comes from what you release and fulfillment comes from what you embrace. So pack light and live large — because every Warrior journey begins with one bag and a bold decision to show up for what truly matters.

Now go find your own version of the game, your own community to cheer with and your own moments to live fully.

Because at the end of the day, Warriors don’t collect things — they collect experiences that make life worth living!

Bruce Schutter

Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!