Kelly Spenhoff

If you need a nail file I don’t have it. Same for a Band-Aid. Chances are, if I have a purse with me at all, it’s just for looks.

There are women who can produce anything your heart desires from the depths of their bag à la Mary Poppins. I used to be able to do it too. 

Gum? Got it!

Cough drop? Here you go.

Tampon? I hope o.b. Is okay.

Sidewalk chalk? Check.

Empty Ziploc bag? Sandwich or quart?

I never asked myself why I needed to have everything that someone else might ask me for in the first place. I believed that I needed to be prepared for anything, and that meant carrying everything with me.

You know what? There were still times I didn’t have something that would have come in handy. That’s when it occurred to me that being prepared isn’t something you carry with you (unless you’re in a post-apocalyptic movie). 

What would I do if I needed a wet wipe? Maybe I could find a restroom and use the sink? What if I got food stuck in my teeth? The restaurant probably has toothpicks up front. 

So I started carrying less with me. Everything seemed okay. Maybe I take a few more things out. The world spins on.

At this point, I hardly bring anything with me. I have what I need and I trust that I can deal with anything that comes up. I don’t need to have the answers to anyone else’s problems while I’m out and about.

Sometimes I carry an empty purse.

It turns out life is lighter when you trust yourself.