I’m a coach girl, can’t help it. For the past 3 years since eschewing a purse during the covid era, i’ve carried a small coach pouch in my signature hot pink color and I adore it. It was a gift from a sweet friend.

The other day I went to my friend Johnny’s house to record an episode if his podcast. Part of the whole situation and podcast set up in his apartment was to make sure his sweet dog Rosie was well occupied, after the initial excitement of of my arrival she was set with one of those rubber dog treat toys stuffed with cookies…or so we thought.

When we were finished we noticed my beloved pink Coach on the floor and at closer glance it was clear that Rosie’s entertainment and occupation during the recording was my purse, it was chewed up, the zipper tab gone, the zipper broken. Johnny was understandably mortified and I was appropriately comporting and assuring all was totally fine…”don’t worry, it’s an old thing, it’s no big deal, i have others…” all the words to just make it all better for everyone, I mean it’s not Rosie’s fault, she’s a dog!

As I thought about it going home, I thought about those words and my purse and I realized that it really was all true, I did not have an attachment to that thing even though I love it and do wish It was still perfect. As is my wont, I began to unravel these feelings in relation to my life living with cancer and this is my conclusion, my current viewpoint on impermanence. Life is impermanent, situations are impermanent, objects are impermanent, so why hold on to things that are unchangeable, why struggle to wish it were different, why hold on to a feeling of sadness or anger or loss for any length of time. It feels better to me to let it go and let it flow and not struggle against an unchangeable facet of a situation.

So my choices here are thus; be sad and resentful about the loss of a favorite item, scour the internet to find and exact replacement even though it’s like over 5 years old, or let it go and open my closet and grab another great purse type thing that is probably gathering dust in there.

But it’s not about the purse anyway…it’s about letting go and choosing the flow of impermanence.

About the author:

Inspired by her own journey as a breast cancer survivor since 2010, Nanette is a fervent advocate for supporting and uplifting fellow survivors. To stay connected with Nanette's vibrant life and insights, be sure to check out her website www.glittereveryday.com and follow her on Instagram @rocknrealty, where she shares her passions, experiences, and inspirations. From rock 'n' roll to Austin's enchanting culture, yoga, breakfast tacos, vegan delights, self-love, self-care, and her unwavering support for breast cancer survivors, Nanette continues to radiate positivity, creativity, and a zest for life in the Live Music Capital of the World.

Impermanence by Nanette Labastida