I love bags. My collection isn't huge, but most days I have a different bag with me. I also have a weekend and a work collection! What a lovely bag that is - how lovely it is a gift.

Your new bag is beautiful. I saw this thread right after you posted it and decided not to be the first response because I thought to myself that my bag didn't make me feel anything! Overall my bag is just a practical thing, although I do choose each long-term one carefully in the past few years. Generally I only want to use one, and have it go with as many outfits as possible. So the current tan 70s inspired leather one from October 2016 was bought after several tan items of clothing or shoes and I knew it would also be good with black in winter and brights in summer. The previous vinyl grey bag with laser cut-outs was carefully chosen as well to be neutral and my style. It got a ratty looking handle after a while so got donated.
I do have 3 others, 2 red and one cobalt, two of which were gifts and I change out very occasionally. Plus I have several clutch bags for evening looks but they don't get much wear.
So on thinking more, looking at my main bag makes me feel...pleased. Pleased that I chose well and that I like this very useful item.
I'm generally much more a shoe girl and shoes make me actually happy rather than just pleased, if that makes any sense.

I love bags. For years I only carried one. Now I have a pretty large collection including hobos, satchels and a variety of crossbody bags. I feel about my handbags as Jenni feels about her shoes (although I like shoes too) -- there's a happiness factor. I don't know where this came from. I was certainly brought with the implicit idea that one or two bags should be enough but as an adult I seem to have loosened the reins and allowed my collection to grow.

Lovely bag! Congratulations on your first "grown-up" bag.

I bought my first leather bag last year. It made me feel polished, even though the style of bag was boho and was kind of laid back.

I recently bought my second leather bag--a cute satchel. This one makes me feel sophisticated and grown-up in a good way.

I wish I had more cash...I would love more bags! I can see how some people get the "bag bug" and have a very large collection.

I love bags too and see them as an essential part of each outfit. I think great accessories are a good way of changing up more basic outfits and I get great utility and use from all my bags. I really enjoy using a statement bag and don't really have any that are utility only function.

Thanks for the great comments, everyone! I've read them all and love the range and thoughtfulness.

Just back from a two-week road trip where my new bag served as luggage and a shoulder bag. It helped me feel organized/centered the whole time we were away. (No small feat given the number of places we stayed!)

Runcarla, thanks for sharing that story about your mom's dream which I found very interesting. I've heard it said that bags can be deeply symbolic and that the way some women feel about their bags is a reflection of how they feel about their bodies.

Currently I have three black bags; one is dressy, another is sporty, and the one I use the most is all purpose. They make me feel prepared but if I carry any one too long, it makes me feel cranky.