When she reflects “Take it from someone who left their backpack full of bricks far behind. Every day seems lighter than a feather” uses symbolism to describe how perfection is limiting (300). The backpack represents the knowledge you carry with you every day, the bricks your idea of ​​perfection. These ideas are bricks instead of paper, because they have a heavy impact on a person's life if they "be perfect". Undoubtedly the weight of such a backpack would prevent the wearer from doing all kinds of things, just as it is limiting to live according to the ideals of perfection. Therefore, when Quindlen states that she "left her backpack full of bricks far behind" the audience knows that she has given up on "being perfect" and by stating that "every day is light as a feather" she is proving that her idea is advantageous, that it helps convince the audience to change their perspective and reap their own benefits