Women don’t just leave the house.
We prepare for possibilities.
Open any woman’s purse and you’ll find what can only be described as a mobile emergency response kit.
Lip balm.
Hair tie.
Safety pin.
Tissues.
Hand sanitizer.
Painkiller.
Mint.
Band-aid.
Tampon.
Old receipts.
Charger.
Random coin.
Snack we forgot we packed.
Just. In. Case.
Headache? Covered.
Sudden wind? Hair tie ready.
Wardrobe malfunction? Safety pin activated.
Hungry child? Emergency granola bar appears.
Friend with a headache? “Wait, I have something.”
We are walking convenience stores.
Men often leave the house with their phone and wallet.
Women leave the house like we’re prepared to survive a minor apocalypse.
And don’t even talk to me about the car.
There’s a backup pair of flats.
An extra cardigan.
Reusable bags.
Hand lotion.
Maybe an umbrella that hasn’t seen sunlight in six months.
Just in case.
Even our desks have secret drawers.
Even our gym bags have “emotional support” snacks.
The funny part?
We rarely use half of it.
But that one day we don’t carry something?
That will be the exact day we need it.
It is not anxiety.
It is experience.
So yes, my bag is heavy.
Yes, I need five minutes to “grab my things.”
And yes, I will absolutely continue carrying a safety pin like it’s a personality trait.
What’s the most random “just in case” item you carry?
I’m betting it’s oddly specific.
Signing out,
Sana