Many women know the struggle of losing valuable or essential items in their purses -- keys, phones, and notes, for instance. But among the other clutter, there are only 6 items that every woman needs in their handbag -- and there's more symbolism than you'd think.
1. Car keys for an inner sense of drive.
Now, we're always on the run -- taking little Bobby and Suzy to soccer practice, picking up groceries, and dragging ourselves to and from work. Our cars are very important to us, but we also need to remember to keep ourselves running too, ladies. My car keeps me going from point A to point B, but if it runs out of gas halfway through the journey, what else do I use to get to my destination? Some people are kind and will help me get there, but then I'm depending on them for my successful arrival. This can be directly correlated to our mentalities -- many of us start out with plenty of motivation and drive to complete a task, but if we die out halfway, we rely on other people to help get our work done.
2. Compact mirror to remind us of our natural beauty.
I know of very few lovely women who can admit with genuine honesty that they're beautiful. We're conditioned to hate ourselves and the way we look, the way our bodies are shaped and move, but these ideas are so far from true it's heartbreaking. Everyone talks about how we should love ourselves, we should love the way we look and how others look; but the problem is, we rarely follow through on it. So, whenever you pull out your tiny compact, make sure to smile and wink at your reflection instead of criticizing the image in front of you.
3. Lipstick for any changes we need to make.
Not necessarily changes to our faces, but we like to refresh our appearance partway through the day. Keeping a lipstick in my purse, no matter how rarely I use it, helps remind me to refresh other aspects of my day or life -- or change them completely. It's wise to carry a few shades, just in case you decide to switch it up before the end of the day. Anytime you swipe your lipstick over your mouth, try and think about something else you need to change or freshen up a bit. It could be a relationship, your daily routine, or even re-organizing your desk. However big or small, try and change at least one thing within your control.
4. Cell phone to keep us connected.
While these wonderful devices help keep us informed, don't let yourself become isolated by them. Make an effort to call the people you love, or high school friends you may have forgotten about. Call your sister or brother, parents, other family members, or people within your social circle. Don't just text people -- this isolates you more from any genuine contact you could have. Listen to another human's voice -- sometimes it's the pick-me-up or comfort you never realized you needed. Oh, and snap a selfie while you're at it! You look lovely, celebrate it!
5. Notepad for staying updated.
We can keep up with the news headlines through our phones, but make a point to jot down some new information you just learned. If you keep your pad of paper in your bag at all times, you can't accidentally delete a piece of paper like you can a link to an article. It's more fun to jot down notes on paper rather than a phone, too -- you look more like a detective!
6. Charging cords to help us stay energized.
Of course it's important to keep a charge on our devices, but we need to keep ourselves alert too. Sometimes I feel like my energy reserves drain faster than my phone battery, but if I forget to bring my cord, I don't remember to get myself a cup of coffee while my phone powers up. It sounds like a very disconnected metaphor, but if I don't worry about what my phone or computer percentage is, I can keep a tab on what I'm doing to take care of myself -- whether it's refilling on caffeine, taking a minute to listen to music, or read my Bible to get myself back to coping with the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Given that there will always be clutter in your purse, keep these things in one pocket near each other. In addition, keep these concepts and symbolic interpretations in mind while you go on your adventures.
