I read a book not too long ago and a particular scene regarding things really caught my attention and got me thinking.
“Almost everyone to whom I introduced Jennifer remarked on how self-possessed she appeared for one who had experienced so much tragedy. Indeed, she did have a remarkably assured manner, and in particular a capacity to make light of setbacks which might have brought other girls her age to tears. A good example of this was her reaction concerning her trunk.”
The girl Jennifer is a young orphaned teenager who is adopted by Christopher, the I of the story. She had been waiting a very long time for her trunk containing her valuable possessions to be delivered to the UK from Canada. Christopher received a letter informing him that the trunk had been lost at sea. On informing her, she just laughed it off.
When after two or three days she had still shown no sign of distress over her loss, I felt inclined to talk with her, and one morning after breakfast, spotting her wandering about in the garden, went out to join her.
…When I stepped down on to the lawn, Jennifer was drifting about the garden with a toy horse in her hand, dreamily walking it along the tops of the hedges and bushes. I remember being rather concerned the toy might be harmed by the dew and was on the verge of pointing this out to her. But in the end, as I came up, I said simply:
“That was rotten luck about your things. You’ve taken it awfully well, but it must have been a terrible shock.”
… “It’s all right. I’m not upset. After all, they were just things. When you’ve lost your mother and your father, you can’t care so much about things, can you?” With that, she gave her little laugh.
… “You know, Jenny, I’m not sure that’s true. You might say a thing like that to a lot of people and they’d believe you. But you see, I know it’s not true. When I came from Shanghai, the things that came in my trunk, those things, they were important to me… What I’m trying to say is that for me, my trunk was special. If it got lost, I’d have been upset.”
She shrugged and put her horse up to her cheek. “I was upset. But I’m not any more. You have to look forward in life.”
Today we live in a very materialistic society. A survey of parents reported in the BBC showed that one-third of under-10s possess their own mobile phone1. The Guardian describes it ‘a materialistic trap’2. Parents are forced to work longer hours to provide money to fulfil these materialistic desires and thus spend less time with their children. The media plays a significant role in this brain washing of children making them feel they have to own a particular thing or gadget to look cool or to improve. When I was 10, I was too busy playing watching Power Rangers and re-enacting it out with my friends in the park. In this materialistic mind-trap, many people forget the value of the things that matter in life. Things can easily be replaced. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but the day after, or the day after that.
I was discussing this with my friend the General and he said, “Yes it’s true. People give preference to materialistic things. But I think sometimes some things are worth cherishing. When a person is no longer with you, sometimes all you have to remember that person is the things they left behind.”
I have a many such things, which my mum calls junk, but they hold such sentimental value I wouldn’t get rid of them for the world. Because they remind me of what once was, but could no longer be.
Do you have any such things?
_________________________________
Title: Good Riddance – Green Day
All quotes are taken from the book “When we were orphans” By Kazuo Ishiguro
1Third of under-tens own mobiles – BBC
2UK children stuck in ‘materialistic trap’ – The Guardian
Posts
27 September 2011 at 02:31
Greetings Nas,
I place little importance on material things that are merely part of the 'keeping up with the Jones's' mentality. Things of sentimental value are indeed to be cherished. I cherish the memories of loved ones no longer here.
And as one who lost a lot of material things through traumatic circumstances, I savour and I'm grateful that I've done my utmost to maintain a peaceful, positive environment. That is priceless.
Take care, my friend. And enjoy the upcoming and finally, summer weather :)
Gary
27 September 2011 at 04:09
Yes. I still keep the photos of my mother when she was my age. I keep all the photos my parents have even before they met. I keep my mom's perfume, her Vuitton and her shoes. I keep my dad's university calculus book.
You see, I grew up not having them near because they're both working. We have to make ends meet first before we can actually spend time on feelings.
This materialistic world does not only make people want more. It also makes the basic things almost unreachable to those who want even the simplest kind of life.
I told myself, if I get a family of my own, I will make sure I will always be there at home.
27 September 2011 at 08:05
What people call 'junk' can also be irrelevant yet important to us. Depends on one's interests et al too, you know? BUT what importance non-materialistic can hold in our life, is perhaps, unmatched! And Third of under-tens own mobiles ! Shocking. And hey, I love the song Good Riddance.
27 September 2011 at 09:25
I do have a lot of material things that I don't want to lose, but it wouldn't really matter if I lost them. They include old VHS tapes, audio cassettes, autographed mugs from 1999 cricket World Cup, books, etc.
As you said, they no longer have an importance, but the way they remind me of the past and of my childhood, there really is no replacement for them.
27 September 2011 at 12:19
Sad but true. Parents work so hard, their kids ask for more money so they could buy the newest gadget they see on tv, just to look cool.. to be part of the IN crowd.
When I was just a little girl, gadgets such as mobile phones are non existent. lol.. Okay, maybe they already exist but I didn't have one that time. And me and my friends, we're contented playing house and with dolls. Now.. kids these days, teenagers.. most of them act like they wouldn't be alive if they don't own a cellular phone..
Hmm.. I have lots of those stuff. Pictures, journals.. My mom calls them junk, to.. But I don't mind. To me, they're treasures.
I never had someone really really close to me who... well, passed away. I'm not sure what I'd do if that happens. But I know that day will come, sooner or later. We are all living borrowed lives.
27 September 2011 at 14:57
It's true and I learnt it last year when my friend and I took some pics and he deleted them immediately althou I liked them and his explanations were like "sometimes you have to let things go" although sometimes things can be valueable. Like the sweatshirt my sister used to wear when she was alive, I remember her whenever I see the sweatshirt. Thanks for sharing this, I'd like to read the book.
27 September 2011 at 18:46
Green Day= stuck in my head now. >.<
And the thing about using objects to remember people is that regardless of the fact that they may evoke memories, they are still just OBJECTS nonetheless.
It's the memories that actually matter, and those are so powerful that they don't need materials to back them up. :)
Btw. I've missed you!
27 September 2011 at 21:46
Well written.
I also have many such things. Things that others may very well call junk but I can't bear to part with because they remind me of a special time or a place or person. I don't really see it as being materialistic though, at least not in the true sense.
Hope you're well
:)
27 September 2011 at 22:26
I personally think keeping 'junk' that has sentimental value is different to want to own all the latest gadgets. The latter is materialistic.
I have lots of bits and bobs lying about, things from uni friends that hold dear memories and things my bro gave me when he was alive.
28 September 2011 at 04:21
Great post!
I have to admit I have far too many junk I wish I could get rid of but just can't. Some things I don't even see everyday, for they're stored, stashed in boxes.
I haven't been able to really let go of them because sometimes I think about the people who gave them to me, how can I get rid of my exes' photographs, the ones I once kept in my wallet? (when I had one).
How can I get rid of something someone who used to be special made for me? I just can't seem to use my rational side to realise all those things belong to the past and in the present, I don't need any of them. I just need myself and the things I can touch. Not a bunch of things that not necessarily remind me of better times.
28 September 2011 at 09:29
Excellent post! Jennifer summed it up pretty well!
I think there is a difference between the things that are precious to you (which you keep) and the things that society imposes on you to get, some things can just be replaced in the snap of a finger where as others can't. But I also thing that when you keep too much from the past,you are sometimes holding on to it and because its there you dont wanna let go. It can turn into a bitter cycle because what once was might not remain what is today.
I might just dig a hole in the back garden and set a nice little funeral for all those things one day 8-)
x
-S
(PS: Tags didnt work for some reason, you'll just have to picture them in your head)
30 September 2011 at 19:06
I was an idiot once. I keep all of the stuff with me which i did during my insanity. They keep reminding me that i should not be like the one i was before.
2 October 2011 at 04:17
Nas, I got seven awards for you. <3
http://aasiyahrising.blogspot.com/2011/10/seven-whoa.html
2 October 2011 at 13:12
That is SO TRUE! But no matter how true it is, unforunately I do value some junk too. Not saying I'm very materialistic or value them more than relationships or people but generally, some stuff does have sentimental value at the end of the day. Umm.. my photographs, certain cards, a couple of books and my laptop :p Like I'd be thoroughly upset if I lost them. You hit a raw nerve man. I think I should be more cautious about this. :)
3 October 2011 at 16:29
Haha, sorry but I also used to be one of the power rangers.. RED 1 as I can remember...
Well, I still have my old watch. My father gave it to me, when I was in the 5th grade. It really makes me cry every time I remember that day. He bought me that watch with all the money he got in his wallet. I saw how happy he was, when he made me smile ... =(
It's been a while Nas ^^ I've missed everything about my favorite blogger --- NAS
3 October 2011 at 17:59
I love this post. yes like you I am a hoarder so much so that I have so much stuff. But I would eventually get rid of some of it
P x
5 October 2011 at 21:13
I love to keep things for sentimental reasons too! I am your newest follower, Karima
6 October 2011 at 17:07
AGAIN? :O
This is the THIRD time i'm writing a comment.
the first time, light chali gayi, the second time, i have no idea what happened. the page didn't load cuz of my stupid internet, or something weird happened, but i was hoping that it had sent cuz that was the second longest comment i had ever written in my life.
the universe doesn't want me to comment on this post. :(
Let me just tell you, my last comment was super awesome. like awesomer than chocolatechip pancakes awesome. and now it will never be read. this is so depressing.
Oh my god, the light just went again! :O
I will post this quickly now because i'm not supposed to use the internet on the UPS.
sorry i don't have time to comment on the actual post (again)
8 October 2011 at 13:47
Okay. I am getting to my shoe box under the bed after reading this. It's been a while. Sigh.
8 October 2011 at 14:50
I do have a lot of things that i have in my collection and I don't want to lose and they remind me of past .. and
that's true there are too many junk I wish I could get rid of but I just simply can't. :P but well that's how life goes on..
8 October 2011 at 18:10
@ klahanie: Hello there good sir! I totally agree with you, there are some things which may be little in monetary value but hold a lot of sentimental value due to the fact they remind you of something special, or of a time you need to remember. :)
8 October 2011 at 18:12
@ Aasiyah: Nicely said, with so much materialism around us, sometimes the only thing we want is that basic unmaterialistic love that one rarely sees in the world.
8 October 2011 at 18:14
@ Cяystal: You're right, for what it's worth, it was worth all the while. It's something unpredictable...
8 October 2011 at 18:16
@ aadilp: I think there are two types of special things; Those that you can lose and would get over for after some time, and those that you could lose but you'll never forget it. I guess it just depends what those things mean, where they came from etc etc.
8 October 2011 at 18:18
@ Leah: You're right, when we were young, it was all about pretending to be power rangers or playing hide and seek etc. Those were the days!
8 October 2011 at 18:20
@ Teboy: You're right, sometimes love means learning to let go.
8 October 2011 at 18:22
@ PeaceLoveandSharpies: Though I agree with your comment, I think it's somewhat difficult. Think back five years, to that coffee date you had with your best friend. You may not even remember it. But the napkin hidden away in your treasures over which you both scribbled a message to each other, that'll bring back the whole incident in vivid clarity. You get what I'm saying?
I've missed you too artistic one!
8 October 2011 at 18:24
@ sady: yes you're right, they're not materialistic in that sense because it's not really the thing itself that you value but what it means / what memory it evokes etc.
8 October 2011 at 18:25
@ Foz: Yeah there is a distinction between the two, and some people today are trapped in the grasp of the latter.
8 October 2011 at 18:30
@ Ella Unread: I can totally relate to that! I'm thinking about digging up a hole in my back garden and burying it all in there some day.
8 October 2011 at 18:31
@ -S: I agree with you totally, (do we ever disagree?). There is a difference between the two, and you're right, holding onto the past can stop you from embracing the future.
x
8 October 2011 at 18:32
@ ME: If that works for you, then so be it :)
8 October 2011 at 18:33
@ y.hayat: There's nothing wrong with having such things. I'd be hypocritical if I said so otherwise!
8 October 2011 at 18:34
@ gelovsky: I too used to pretend I was a power ranger :D. Oh man, my dad also gave me a watch, and it means a lot to me!
You need to update soon man!
8 October 2011 at 18:35
@ P: I guess after some time, they lose their meaning don't they?
8 October 2011 at 18:35
@ Karima: You're not the only one! Thank you very much for visiting, commenting and following
:)
8 October 2011 at 18:36
@ Vice Versa: Awwwh Ulti Pulti! Don't worry about it, it's the thought that counts, and I'm glad you took time out to write it 3 times. That's means a lot, so thank you.
:)
8 October 2011 at 18:38
@ Zeba: Hey! One of my treasure boxes is a shoe box too :O. Thank you for visiting and commenting!
8 October 2011 at 18:38
@ äмän ♥: haha! It's not easy getting rid of it :P
9 October 2011 at 10:14
That seems like a lovely book. Look at this - http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kzroldHqqD1qztsrto1_500.jpg
I don't have any things I'd like to hold on to forever, I don't know, maybe I do, but I don't think of them often so I can't name them now - maybe if I saw them I could tell you. But more than things, the things I like to hold on to are words. And for the very same reason as yours - the remind of what once was, but now isn't. I think they're the only things I would trust and value in my life.
I don't know if I ever really thanked you properly for the birthday wishes - the ones on my blog, and the ones meant for me but deposited in Maryam's shoutbox :p They were very gracious, thank you. :)
17 October 2011 at 22:38
My cousin has a phone and she's only 1 year and 1 day! But she's super cool and needs her bling obviously 8-)
Yeah I had LOADS of random shit lying around everywhere but I threw everything away .. scarcity of space you see .. I was economizing :)
I do have almost all my toys from when I was young, and my birthday dress for my first birthday .. and my game boy color! That bad boy still works :D good times :)