I need to be able to be at a gig and just put my bag on the

The model and actress Cara Delevingne, known for her wit as much as for her art, once spoke these curious words: “I need to be able to be at a gig and just put my bag on the floor and not worry about it being stood on or getting ruined. You want a bag that can go through anything. And a little bit of softness is always lovely. If I don't have a dog, I can just pet my bag!” At first glance, her words seem playful, almost trivial—a reflection on fashion and accessories. Yet beneath the laughter lies a wisdom about resilience, comfort, and the need for gentleness in a world of chaos.

When she speaks of a bag that can go through anything, she is not only talking of leather or fabric, but of the soul itself. Life demands that we carry burdens, and like a bag, we are tossed about—set upon rough ground, brushed by crowds, sometimes even trampled by misfortune. What we need, then, is the strength to endure without breaking, the resilience to bear our load and still remain whole. The ancients would recognize this as fortitude, the quality of being steadfast in both glory and hardship.

Yet Delevingne adds another note: “a little bit of softness is always lovely.” For strength alone is not enough. A bag that is hard and unyielding may endure, but it cannot comfort. So too with the human heart: to survive is necessary, but to remain tender amidst survival is divine. Softness, in a world that prizes hardness, becomes its own kind of heroism. To be touched and to still offer warmth, even after hardship, is to show that strength and gentleness are not enemies but companions.

Then comes her jest: “If I don’t have a dog, I can just pet my bag.” In this humor is a profound truth. The human heart longs for comfort, for touch, for something warm and reassuring to ease the stress of the day. The dog, symbol of loyalty and affection, often provides this solace. But even when absent, Delevingne finds comfort in the simple act of touch, in the softness of something close. Here we see the ancient wisdom that comfort is not only found in grand gestures but in small, humble acts: the warmth of cloth, the stroke of a hand, the presence of something dependable.

History echoes this teaching in unexpected ways. Consider the warriors of Sparta, whose shields were not only weapons of war but also symbols of safety. Mothers told their sons to return “with it or upon it,” for the shield represented resilience itself. Yet even in this culture of hardness, the Spartans sang songs, shared laughter, and cherished poetry. Their endurance was coupled with softness, their shield with song. In the same way, Delevingne’s bag is both shield and comfort—strong enough to endure, soft enough to soothe.

The origin of her words lies in modern life’s endless demands, where one is often on the move, carrying possessions, hopes, and responsibilities from place to place. In such a life, the bag becomes a symbol of the self: needing durability to withstand the world, yet tenderness to remind us of our humanity. Her jest about “petting the bag” is more than humor—it is a reminder that we must create spaces of comfort in the midst of chaos, to soothe our own hearts when the world grows harsh.

The lesson for us is clear: become like the bag that can go through anything. Be resilient, enduring, and unafraid of hardship. Yet do not let the trials of life harden you so completely that no softness remains. Keep tenderness alive within you, so that even amidst turmoil, you can comfort yourself and others. Strength without softness is harsh; softness without strength is fragile. Together, they create wholeness.

Practical action flows easily. Build resilience in your life—prepare for challenges, endure difficulties, and do not fear when life sets you upon the ground. But also keep near you things that bring comfort: the companionship of a dog, the embrace of a loved one, or even something as humble as the feel of fabric in your hands. In this balance, you will find the ability not only to endure, but to flourish.

Thus, Delevingne’s playful words become ancient teaching: “A bag that can go through anything, and a little softness that is always lovely.” To future generations, let this be remembered: life demands both strength and gentleness. Carry your burdens with resilience, but keep within you the softness that makes life worth carrying at all.