Trading Prada for Words

Help your mental health by reminding yourself you’re loved.

I recently traded my black Prada roller bag in for the simple, hard case white roller bag pictured below.

The Prada was $3000 and was a mile marker in my journey years ago, as I had to justify it in my mind by calculating the cost of the trips.

A decade and 3 million miles later, the Prada is still going strong. It has traveled with me all over the world. But today it sits in the back of the closet because my kids gave me this beautiful gift, which is essentially a love letter on wheels.

As I’ve traveled through security, I’ve had quite a few TSA agents say;

“Oh that’s unique! I’ve never seen that before!”

And I believe it, because I invented it. Who else but a writer would be weird enough to want writing on a travel bag?

I love to fly. I love everything about it, including the chaos of airports. As a former airline crisis management team leader we have a saying; “I bleed jet fuel.”

But lately, as one child married, and another graduates university, I’ve been taking my first trips alone.

And any time I pack this bag and wheel it through the airport, I realize that I never will be.

Because when I hoist that bag onto the conveyor going through security, I’m reminded of the love.

And I’m reminded that love, although intangible, and in invisible, is really the strongest force of all.

Although it may be time to touch up this battered roller bag I would highly recommend re-creating this for yourself - especially if your kids are on the cusp of moving into their own homes.

The separation may be new, but the love remains. Joshua 1:9 is something I’ll add to the bag soon, as a love note to myself and fellow travelers who see my luggage.

Be strong and courageous - even as you travel this earth - traversing airports and highways.

I will never regret trading in the Prada for the $40 roller bag with the priceless love notes from the kids.