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What’s in Your Backpack?

Years ago, someone gave me a piece of advice: “Fill your toolbox wisely. Learn when and how to use each tool, so when the time comes, you’ve already mastered it.” 

At first, I didn’t quite get the analogy. A toolbox? What tools?

Truth is, I’ve never been much of a toolbox person—I’m more of a backpack gal. In fact, I’ve had the same yellow backpack for over 25 years, and it has traveled with me through more adventures than I can count. But the most valuable tools I carry aren’t physical. They’re intangible: my faith, honesty, education, the way I approach challenges, tranquility, optimism, resilience—just to name a few. One of my favorites? The “glasses” that allow me to see, face, and live reality as it truly is.

I remember one particular day when, for several reasons, I found myself quietly whining, realizing I wasn’t living my own reality. How did I get here? Was there something I could do about it? Some circumstances were my doing, others weren’t. But the feeling was undeniable—I was living someone else’s life. And I didn’t like it. It felt fake, like I was trying to deceive the world.

That moment of clarity—facing reality head-on—helped me restore my inner order and find peace. I’ve learned that only by knowing and accepting reality as it is can our place and role in life become clear. When that happens, things and people fall into place. We no longer have to pretend to be someone else. We’re free to live the life we truly have.

As a mother, I often wonder: What tools am I putting in my children’s backpacks? Not just the practical ones—like cooking, doing laundry, managing money—but also the deeper ones: how to trust, care for themselves, and care for others. And as a person, I ask myself: Do I have the tools I need to live a real and fulfilling life?

And, what about you?

What’s in your backpack?

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