Firstly, I apologise for the possibly vague title of this thread. After writing and rewriting titles several times, this was the most succinct I could think of.
Today I became aware for the first time that I have a security object: my bag. My bag is a long-strapped, across-the-chest, cloth satchel type affair. I do not carry a "handbag" or "purse". Having to "waste" one hand by holding onto a bag seems pointless to me; I'd rather have both hands free to wrangle kids, carry things, collect plant samples. I find it supremely difficult to hold a bag while extracting my wallet and money simultaneously. Since my youth I have always used a bag that has a strap I put over my head and which crosses my chest from my left shoulder to my right hip. There have been various incarnations of the bag, most of which I sewed myself, but there have also been a couple of backpack styles with a single strap.
Above is my current bag. I made it from a vintage obi. Inside it is lined with denim (gotta be tough-wearing!) with lots of pockets. Must have pockets.
I take my bag everywhere when I go out, and I tend to wear it even at the few parties or gatherings I go to. I don't dump it in a corner. Without it, I feel uncomfortably light. Some people might say I feel naked without my bag. My bag is invariably filled with crap as well as a few useful things... Receipts, pens, pencils, crayons, tissues, lip balm, stones, dried up flowers and leaves, confiscated kids' toys, screws, paper clips, as well as cloth shopping bags, wallet, keys (usually kept in my pockets), mobile phone, etc.
Suddenly this morning it clicked that my bag serves as my security object when I'm out in the world. The strap across my chest is my shield, in the same way as my sunglasses are my mask. Without my bag, I feel exposed and vulnerable - that is the feeling of lightness I described - just as I feel exposed without my sunglasses to hide my eyes. I enjoy the pressure across my chest and shoulder, and the weight of the bag at my right hip. It feels safe.
This is an amazing revelation for me! And it has me wondering about whether other people have similar "shields" for when out in the world. I know there is a number of people who have blankies. How about those, and others? Do you carry or wear something? Headphones, even? For a long time I listened to music whenever I walked around, but that was before I had kids I had to cart along with me.
Would love to know of others' experiences.
Today I became aware for the first time that I have a security object: my bag. My bag is a long-strapped, across-the-chest, cloth satchel type affair. I do not carry a "handbag" or "purse". Having to "waste" one hand by holding onto a bag seems pointless to me; I'd rather have both hands free to wrangle kids, carry things, collect plant samples. I find it supremely difficult to hold a bag while extracting my wallet and money simultaneously. Since my youth I have always used a bag that has a strap I put over my head and which crosses my chest from my left shoulder to my right hip. There have been various incarnations of the bag, most of which I sewed myself, but there have also been a couple of backpack styles with a single strap.
Above is my current bag. I made it from a vintage obi. Inside it is lined with denim (gotta be tough-wearing!) with lots of pockets. Must have pockets.
I take my bag everywhere when I go out, and I tend to wear it even at the few parties or gatherings I go to. I don't dump it in a corner. Without it, I feel uncomfortably light. Some people might say I feel naked without my bag. My bag is invariably filled with crap as well as a few useful things... Receipts, pens, pencils, crayons, tissues, lip balm, stones, dried up flowers and leaves, confiscated kids' toys, screws, paper clips, as well as cloth shopping bags, wallet, keys (usually kept in my pockets), mobile phone, etc.
Suddenly this morning it clicked that my bag serves as my security object when I'm out in the world. The strap across my chest is my shield, in the same way as my sunglasses are my mask. Without my bag, I feel exposed and vulnerable - that is the feeling of lightness I described - just as I feel exposed without my sunglasses to hide my eyes. I enjoy the pressure across my chest and shoulder, and the weight of the bag at my right hip. It feels safe.
This is an amazing revelation for me! And it has me wondering about whether other people have similar "shields" for when out in the world. I know there is a number of people who have blankies. How about those, and others? Do you carry or wear something? Headphones, even? For a long time I listened to music whenever I walked around, but that was before I had kids I had to cart along with me.
Would love to know of others' experiences.
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