After discovering [Rajiv Surendra’s Youtube channel](https://youtube.com/@rajivsurendra?si=XXV0cgPdB_UM9ME8 ) a few months ago I’ve been thinking a lot about how the quality and beauty of the simple items we use every day can enhance our lives. https://youtu.be/R87SIgGC20k?si=qaZwBbDmq6wq7d9z Rajiv seems to have built a wonderful life and career out of teaching others how to elevate their lives in a myriad of ways. I’m not just talking about surrounding yourself with things of beauty and quality but truly loving, valuing, taking care of, and being grateful for the things you own. His channel always leaves me calmer, knowing things I didn’t before, and contemplating life differently—in much the same way Mr. Rodgers’ show did when I was a boy. After seeing their ads stalking me across my socials I decided to reach out to leather company [Satchel & Page](https://www.satchel-page.com/pages/bfcm-sale-2023?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ag%3A20359782196%3A149506969405%3A665166873324&nb_adtype=&nb_kwd=satchel+and+page&nb_ti=kwd-338740795636&nb_mi=&nb_pc=&nb_pi=&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=e&tw_source=google&tw_adid=665166873324&tw_campaign=20359782196&tw_kwdid=kwd-338740795636&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20359782196&gbraid=0AAAAADyRXBC0scxACsj6MkA0Q67WaiJQe&gclid=CjwKCAjwzevPBhBaEiwAplAxvk3VXCXCwJCQkD2b97TGPCsiabaeIJl_pUjN8axGtg4Cii7FnOpsvxoCuYcQAvD_BwE) to ask if they’d be interested in me reviewing one of their products. One bag of theirs in particular caught my eye, the Slim Mailbag. ![Bag.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/ericvancewalton/244eLu1fMNn55x8SHAaU8qbLPAm7hivBEqmNhZaKMCWHyzRuQg8Ww4tiaFwqEeqbSjrxg.jpeg) ![Satch.jpeg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/ericvancewalton/23tGVuuBY3jX7dNjZxXiAEcxJ8fX8Er3VQo2731SdTpyEooL1d2XuRbAsV6nLxR17NjiB.jpeg) A few days later I was contacted by a marketing team member asking for my mailing address, which I think might be a very good sign. I'm planning on doing a little traveling over the next few months and I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to do a long(ish)-term review of the bag. I imagine this will be a decent bag to carry my laptop and a few essentials through the airports and on road trips. I've always used a backpack in the past but the more room I have, the more I tend to try to cram into the bag. After a bit of research I discovered that it’s regular practice for companies to lend and sometimes give products to bloggers and influencers in exchange for an honest review or mention. Although I’ll never make a career out of this like Rajiv I think it might be a decent little hobby or side-gig to review products that genuinely capture my interest. It's funny how one thing can lead to another. I guess you never know unless you ask. ## Speaking of travel...Have you heard that [HiveFest XI](https://hive.blog/hive-106258/@hivefest/save-the-date-hivefest-xi-barcelona-the-heart-of-catalonia-17-20-sept-2026) is going to be taking place in Barcelona this fall? After a eight year absence from these celebrations and meet-ups it would be wonderful to make it to this one. Time will tell. You never know. : ) ## All for now. Thanks so much for reading. --- [www.ericvancewalton.net](http://www.ericvancewalton.net) ![](https://i.imgur.com/aieouS5.png)

Unless you like your job!