Life after practical usefulness has been a big conversational piece for ages, resulting in discussions about how sustainable our lives are and how this defines us as individuals.
But what happens when our love affair with an object fades? Which I guess is a very different proposition from that of no longer serving a purpose. Does everything about our connection with an object change? I often wonder why so many people who purchase cheap and ‘convenient’ furniture end up buying variations of the same stuff over & over again when adapting to new relationships or new homes. Is furniture’s usefulness somehow unconnected or disassociated from our feelings, driven by deeper needs and desires?
I guess this can be applied to anything and everything we own, and I have written previously about how we never actually own anything; all we do is look after things for a while. While I’m aware this might become some sort of existential strand, I would like to talk about the act of acquiring and discarding.
Acquiring and discarding weaves itself into the fabric of human experience because we are natural collectors driven by a primordial urge to gather, possess, and hoard. Yet, within this pursuit lies a paradox: the transient nature of all we accumulate. In our fervent quest for possessions, we find fleeting solace. Objects, knowledge, relationships—they all find their way into our lives, enriching our existence. But as swiftly as they arrive, they slip away, leaving behind echoes of their presence. The impermanence of acquisition whispers a profound truth: that the nature of possession, indeed our relationship with everything, is ephemeral.
The key to understanding our relationship with objects is to understand how they mirror the ebb and flow of life itself. We gather experiences and possessions, and for many, we find comfort in their transient embrace. Acknowledging the inevitability of change means we can let go, and by doing so, we create space for new acquisitions. We always do this with relationships, so why should it be any different for objects or furniture?
The essence of acquiring and discarding is to embrace the transient nature of being. Attachment and detachment: the challenge is finding a healthy and purposeful equilibrium between holding on and letting go.
Returning to the ephemeral tapestry of relationships, we discover the beauty of fleeting moments—a shared laugh, a comforting embrace, or exchanging heartfelt words. Yet, like everything else, our tastes and needs evolve, transform, and sometimes fade. So, I guess the transient nature of humanness invites reflection on our relationship and connection with furniture or objects. It beckons us to cherish the present and enjoy what we have without clinging to the past or yearning for an uncertain future.
Embracing impermanence nurtures a profound appreciation for each relationship or thing’s depth and richness in our lives.
The great Dr Seuss once wrote, “We never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”. If we move beyond the initial feeling of melancholia, we can all learn to enjoy each moment for what the moment brings.
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