I feel like everyone has experienced an attachment to an inanimate object before. Whether it be a childhood stuffed toy, or an old tattered blanket, I feel like forming an emotional attachment to a material object is just a part of life. Forming an inanimate attachment is just a step in childhood, and one day parting from it is almost a coming of age rite of passage. Although, for some, the ability to put sentiment behind non-living objects never goes away. The childlike joy of figurines or papers never fades, and inanimate attachment grows with them.
Topics like this are some of my favorite things to talk about. Pieces of life that are so miniscule, yet they hold so much value through the right set of eyes. I love hearing about others favorite stuffed animals, or blankets that they’ve carried with them since childhood. Something about getting a glimpse into peoples’ ‘fragments of affection’ as I like to call them.
To me, hand-written notes are something I have recently begun holding dear to my heart. Since coming to MSA especially, I have held notes in high regard. From a letter from a senior on the first day of living at MSA, to notes my mom wrote on Parent Day. I keep each one, and for some reason, the pieces of paper that stay in my desk drawer bring me happiness. Maybe it’s because I am a particularly sentimental person, but I really think there is value in being able to find sparks of joy within seemingly lifeless objects.
I am not writing all of this just to inform the fellow blog-spacers of my attachment to pieces of paper (although I very well could have wrote a whole blog on that topic). Through this blog post, I really just wanted to encourage others to not feel ashamed of their inanimate attachments. Because what constitutes what can or cannot bring you comfort? Shoot, it could even be a lucky paperclip for all I care. Just own it, Whatever your object is, I encourage you to be proud of it, because life is hard enough, and if you can find something as miniscule as paper (in my case) joyful, I think that is something to be proud of. Being able to find joy in things as simple as an old blanket or toy is something that not everyone can do, so if you find yourself, I urge you to embrace it!
In the future I hope to continue this blog as a series of introducing other’s (and my own) inanimate attachments! Hopefully it will be a good way to take a glimpse into what brings others joy.
🙂
-Adele
adele, this blog is so warm and honest! having several inanimate attachments myself, i loved seeing you talk about them because it’s always fascinating to hear about the ones of others 🙂
Such a good read! Inanimate attachments are something that I still have to a very high degree, and I’ve come to realize that even the smallest things can become very important to you or other people.
This is a very well written and accurately described blog! I really love the concept in general, though the only inanimate attachment I have had was to a fleece piece of cloth when I was younger. I used to sleep with it. I think it might still be in a storage box somewhere. Anyways, great blog this week! I can’t wait for the next one.
Adele, I found this blog very touching. As someone who definitely develops these attachments and may or may not still remember his childhood blanket, I appreciate that you took the time to talk about something that, in your own paraphrased words, “is so miniscule but holds so much value in the right set of eyes.”