Dear Object, Please Don't Cry

Alright, so first off—honestly, I’m kind of at a loss for a title here because the topic itself is just so weird to frame.
I’m really hoping this is the right spot for a Psychic post, and please, believe me when I say I’m not trolling, even if it sounds totally ridiculous to some people. I have a feeling I’m not alone in this "issue," either, since some of my closest friends have actually mentioned feeling the exact same way. (And seriously, sorry for such a dramatic intro for something that might actually be pretty common 😛)

So, here goes nothing. I wouldn't call myself a materialistic person. Like, don't get me wrong, I love working, I love having things, and I definitely enjoy treating myself to stuff. But money isn't my main motivator in life, and it certainly isn't the core of how I view my relationships with people.

But—it’s about objects. Physical, material things. Take my wallet, for instance. I’ve had this one for ages. If I’m being totally real: it’s ugly, it’s beat up, it’s completely worn out, and it barely even closes anymore. It is high time I go out and buy a new one. Something better, maybe a little pricier, and definitely nicer.
And then, there's the "problem." I get all excited about my new wallet, but then I immediately feel GUILTY for just tossing the old one aside, and I start WORRYING that my old wallet is actually sad. Okay, look. I am fully aware that a damn wallet doesn't have feelings, but I can't help myself. Sometimes it feels so pathetic that I actually find myself picking it up and giving it a little hug.

So yeah, that’s basically the situation.

It’s not like I struggle to throw away junk all the time, and I don't get hit by these moods constantly. This example could apply to literally ANYTHING. I mean, when I was a kid, I used to take such good care of every single one of my stuffed animals. If one fell over or if I played with another one more than the others, I’d get so upset thinking I had somehow hurt its feelings. But okay, that makes sense. I was a little kid. Stuffed animals are basically little creatures that are cute, and it's normal for people to feel a certain way toward them, right?

Do you guys ever feel this weird sadness toward things that get replaced by something better, more expensive, prettier, or just more functional?

If I were to speculate further—I've wondered if maybe it's because I used an item for so long that I've attached nostalgia to it, like I'm linking the object to a specific era of my life or whatever, but I don't think that's it. Because I remember getting a set of colored pencils, and then the very next day I got a different set that was much better. I felt bad for the "worse" pencils immediately, even though I hadn't even used them yet, and even though they were just a gift from someone I barely knew—so it wasn't about a deep, cherished memory. I have plenty of examples like that, so I really don't think it's about tying things to specific memories.
The reason I'm bringing this up now is that I honestly thought I had outgrown this phase, but just a few days ago I actually teared up when I realized that one product was selling better than another item that was in the exact same tier—equally good, just not advertised enough. I felt so bad for that object (I own both, by the way) and I found myself hoping it wasn't feeling lonely. 😕

But seriously, I'm not a troll. I genuinely want to hear what you all think. Is there anyone else out there who finds themselves trying to comfort inanimate objects?? 🙄

Rushing out the door, but I had to hop on for this one!🙏
Oh yeah, I’m definitely one of those people.🤣
It all started back in the day when I used to have full-on conversations with my Barbie dolls.🙄 Nowadays? It’s basically me giving my laptop a little kiss because I love it so much🤣, or apologizing to an object right before I toss it, or even actually telling things, "Hey, don't be sad!"🤦

🙈

I wouldn't say I think objects actually suffer 😁 so much as I feel this lingering sense of guilt whenever I discard things that still work perfectly fine and hold sentimental value. Honestly, I feel a lot better once I know an item has been "properly rehomed"—for instance, my old wallet is currently sitting safely at my mom's house, which helps ease that feeling 🤣

I guess I’ve still got this old, beat-up wallet that’s basically falling apart; the stitching is starting to give way and coins keep slipping out, but honestly, I’m probably just too lazy to go out and grab a new one. 🙂
I suppose I’m one of those people who never really throws anything away unless it’s gotten so worn down that it’s literally disintegrating.
Even though I'm well into my thirties now, I still have a huge pile of old childhood toys tucked away somewhere, because I feel like every single little thing holds some kind of deep meaning, so I just can't seem to bring myself to toss them.

I’m dealing with the exact same thing. 😬

I have this irrational reluctance to swap things out—for instance, when I change my bed linens, I find myself convinced that the old set is somehow grieving or even jealous of the new ones. It makes me rush to put them back just to settle the score. 🙄 🤣 And then, predictably, the new set starts feeling jealous too. 🤣
It sounds absurd, but if I drop my iPhone on the floor, I actually kiss it, make sure it’s okay, and then we move on with our lives. 🤣
The next part leans closer to OCD territory, but every night before I can drift off, I have to kiss every single stuffed animal in my room (which, for obvious reasons, I can't bring myself to throw away 😬). Only then am I able to sleep. 😵

I actually suspect I might be less sensitive to the feelings of living beings than most, which makes this whole situation feel like a genuine issue. 🤔
My struggle isn't about wanting new things while being unable to let go of the old; it's more about trying to pinpoint where this psychological impulse even originates. 🍿 😬

I’m not one to cry or make a scene, but I am incredibly mindful of my belongings—everything from my clothes and shoes to my books, DVDs, bedding, towels, dishes, and mugs. To make sure nothing feels neglected, I rotate through them constantly.
For instance, if I spend an evening watching a movie on DVD, I feel a real need to schedule time for my other films soon after, just so they don't feel unloved.
It’s the same when I listen to music compilations; I have to play every track so the others don't end up feeling lonely or overlooked. 😵
My wardrobe works the same way; every single item needs its turn. The hardest part is when I can't wear something right away and have to put it off. When I finally do get to wear it, there’s this genuine sense of relief and justice. 😂

Plus, I find it hard to throw things away. I’ve always been quite sentimental and nostalgic. Everything carries a memory, and I often feel like when I toss an object, I’m actually throwing away a piece of my past. 😢

😂 honestly, this whole thing just gave me a good laugh 😁 😁
when I was little, I used to treat my toys like they were actual living beings—though, if I’m being honest, I was probably a bit too harsh on them 😳
my mom tells me (though I don't personally recall the incident) that I once actually cut the nose off a Barbie because she was being "naughty" 😳
but really, I was always such an angel 😁

I don't really have that kind of relationship with my belongings anymore 😂

I’ve definitely been there before; I used to do the exact same thing and honestly thought I was losing my mind, but I wasn't 😁
It actually has a technical term—if I recall correctly, it's called animism, which is typically just a developmental stage you go through when you're a little kid... the idea that inanimate objects possess a life of their own. Eventually, you’re supposed to outgrow it, but looking at people around here, it seems like that phase just never ends for some folks 😁

Does this tendency tie back into general daydreaming too? 🙂

😲What on earth🙄—

😂

Honestly, I think this whole thing is great. From where I'm sitting, you guys seem like genuinely caring, good people. 🙂

I get why seeing stuff like this brings back all those old memories for you guys, but I’m curious—do you ever get those same vibes from objects you aren't even attached to? Like, things that are relatively new or just don't play a huge role in your daily life yet?

Hannah White2 said:Does this tendency tie back into general daydreaming too? 🙂

That's actually a really interesting way to put it. Personally, yeah, I definitely tend to drift off into my own head quite a bit; I'm one of those people who thinks very visually, so it's pretty easy for me to just sort of... linger inside my own mind for a while.

Do you reckon there might be some kind of connection between the two?

@Justin Fisher—your first post felt like I was reading my own thoughts. It’s the exact same situation I'm dealing with. 😁

Justin Fisher said:I get why seeing stuff like this brings back all those old memories for you guys, but I’m curious—do you ever get those same vibes from objects you aren't even attached to? Like, things that are relatively new or just don't play a huge role in your daily life yet?

That's actually a really interesting way to put it. Personally, yeah, I definitely tend to drift off into my own head quite a bit; I'm one of those people who thinks very visually, so it's pretty easy for me to just sort of... linger inside my own mind for a while.

Do you reckon there might be some kind of connection between the two?

Yeah. Same here...

Sometimes my garden gets the better of me.
It’s that feeling where I pull a weed or snip a stray flower and immediately feel a pang of guilt:
"Did I just kill that because it wasn't quite pretty enough or useful enough?"
😢

As for computers—I have a rather complicated relationship there.
The night before my laptop was stolen, I actually dreamed that someone had snatched away my "best friend."

I went through similar phases with my belongings when I was younger—especially back in childhood—but somehow I moved past it. Now, I’ve swung to the complete opposite end of the spectrum; my "problem" is actually getting rid of stuff. I just toss everything, whether it’s useful or not, almost like I’m trying to shed some kind of physical weight from my life 😁
I used to be way more organized, too. Everything had to be in its exact place, perfectly aligned down to the millimeter—especially when I was living with my parents. My mom has always been pretty obsessed with cleanliness and order, but ever since I moved out and got married, I’ve totally let go. Things don't weigh on me the way they used to at all 😉
Honestly, I think this kind of relationship with possessions in adulthood might be linked to some sort of OCD...

Dice, I’m certainly not the only one who does this... It just makes me feel more at ease... 😍

For me, it’s most noticeable when it comes to my stuffed animals. If one happens to fall over on its head, I find myself compelled to stroke its head and pick it up. Or, if I decide one should sleep in my bed, I’ll actually tuck it in under a blanket or a throw 😂
I never quite understood why I did these things; I honestly thought I was losing my mind. But now I see I’m not alone in this... 🙏

EDIT: Regarding the daydreaming part; personally, I am someone who tends to live a bit too much in my own imagination...

"Quote:"

Hannah White2 said:Does this tendency tie back into general daydreaming too? 🙂

I find myself quite prone to daydreaming these days. It’s a bit of a departure from my younger years, actually. As a child, I wasn't nearly this much of a dreamer; that particular tendency simply wasn't part of my nature back then. 🤔
Perhaps everything is finally coming full circle. 😍 🤣

hollowbear9 said:I’ve definitely been there before; I used to do the exact same thing and honestly thought I was losing my mind, but I wasn't 😁
It actually has a technical term—if I recall correctly, it's called animism, which is typically just a developmental stage you go through when you're a little kid... the idea that inanimate objects possess a life of their own. Eventually, you’re supposed to outgrow it, but looking at people around here, it seems like that phase just never ends for some folks 😁

This immediately crossed my mind, though I suppose there must be some underlying reason why we haven't managed to shake it off just yet. 🥳
I haven't the slightest clue what that could possibly be.

Furthermore, I find myself loath to tear up paper—even when it contains absolutely nothing of value to me, let alone something that might actually be useful down the road. Even if the document isn't mine, the act itself feels unnecessary. 😵

There isn't even a chance I’d gift someone something that actually belongs to me. Instead, I’ll just wrap up whatever I bought for them right away. It keeps things simple—no unnecessary emotional attachment. 🙂 😬

The other day, I decided to swap out my relatively new wallet for an older one, mostly just so I wouldn't feel guilty tossing the new one straight into the trash. The old one is actually in pretty decent shape, even if it’s missing a dedicated coin pocket 😠 At the end of the day, I made the switch because I couldn't stand the thought of that newer one just sitting lonely in a desk drawer gathering dust instead of being put to good use 🙄 😍

I'll probably circle back to the newer one in a little while, though—it feels a bit sad leaving it behind 😂

😂😂😂
Goodness! Don't even get me started on the paperwork! 😂
I simply cannot bring myself to toss them out. I lack the necessary fortitude. I find myself dwelling on the fact that this was once a tree, tragically felled just so I could end up with this heap of paper... 😢

My home is utterly overwhelmed by these scraps—white ones, colored ones, it matters little... 😁