I want my handbags and my shoes to be stylish but I want to make

Hear the words of Maria Sharapova, who declared: “I want my handbags and my shoes to be stylish but I want to make sure that they're versatile. I travel and I have to make sure the pieces I put into my bag can go with a dress or with shorts or jeans.” At first, this seems like the reflection of an athlete and icon concerned with fashion. Yet within these words lies wisdom far deeper than clothing: they speak to the art of balance, of preparation, of living lightly yet wisely as one journeys through the ever-changing stages of life.

The desire for style is the desire for beauty—for the outer to reflect the inner, for appearance to carry grace. But style alone is not enough. Without versatility, beauty becomes a burden, impractical, heavy to bear. Sharapova reminds us that the wise traveler does not fill her bag with things that dazzle only once, but with things that serve in many ways, that adapt to circumstance, that flow with the needs of the moment. This is not only a lesson of fashion, but of life itself.

For to travel is to embrace uncertainty. One day may require formality, another simplicity, another resilience. To pack with care is to prepare for the unknown. So too in the journey of the soul: we cannot carry everything with us, and so we must choose virtues and habits that serve in many places—patience, which fits in the courts of kings as well as among the poor; kindness, which suits every season; discipline, which strengthens whether in triumph or trial. Thus, the handbag of life must be packed with qualities that are versatile.

History gives us examples of this wisdom. Consider Alexander the Great, whose armies marched across continents. They could not carry vast stores, yet they carried tools of versatility: engineers who could build bridges or siege towers from whatever the land provided, soldiers trained to fight in phalanx or on horseback. It was their adaptability, their ability to make the few serve the many, that brought them victory. Sharapova’s words echo the same truth: prepare not by carrying everything, but by carrying wisely.

The mention of handbags and shoes may seem small, but it is in the small things that great truths are hidden. For even the simplest choice—what to pack, what to wear—reflects deeper values. The one who seeks endless possessions will always be burdened. The one who seeks what is both useful and beautiful will always be free. So too in life: choose not the path of excess, but the path of thoughtful simplicity.

Her words also carry the wisdom of self-knowledge. She knows her life requires constant movement, and so she prepares accordingly. Many fail because they live as though life were fixed, permanent, unchanging. But those who succeed are those who acknowledge the truth: life is a journey, and every journey demands adaptability. To know yourself, to know your needs, and to prepare with care—this is the root of success both on the road and in the soul.

The lesson for us is clear: pack your life with versatility. Do not cling to possessions or habits that serve only in one setting. Choose virtues, skills, and tools that can serve you in every place and season. Practically, this means learning to adapt, being ready to live with less, and cultivating strengths that endure no matter the circumstance. Just as Sharapova’s handbag must hold pieces that work with a dress, shorts, or jeans, so too your soul must hold wisdom that works in feast and famine, in joy and sorrow, in home and exile.

Therefore, children of tomorrow, remember the teaching of Maria Sharapova: style is good, but versatility is greater. Travel light, but travel prepared. Let every piece you carry—whether garment, tool, or virtue—be able to serve you in more than one way. For the journey is long, and the bag of life is small. Fill it not with excess, but with treasures that adapt and endure. In this way, you will walk with grace, strength, and freedom, no matter where the road may lead.