Why We Treat New Things Differently

I used to take so much care of new things given to me. Especially if they were gifts. Gifts have this natural preciousness to them. No matter their price tag, they hold an innate value.

Recently, I got a gift from someone: a wireless mouse for my PC. It was the missing piece of my work setup.

There was a plastic film covering the bottom of it, and for months I refused to peel it off because I want it to look new. Tonight, I finally did.

And it made me think. Why do most of us treat new things so carefully, almost like they’re sacred, but slowly stop caring as they age? I’m guilty of this, too. Whether it’s a pair of shoes, a book, or a piece of music equipment, I notice that I’m more protective when it’s new and I think most of us are.

Maybe it’s because “new” gives us a fresh perspective. It feels perfect, full of potential, almost like a blank slate. But eventually, life happens. Scratches appear, the new smell fades, and we stop treating it like it’s precious.

Tonight, as I peeled off that plastic, I realized, there’s no point in keeping it new forever. Things are meant to be used, to be lived with. The scratches and wear are proof that they’ve been part of our journey. And when you learn how to thoroughly use them, as they become part of your daily life, you actually love and care for them even more, not because they’re perfect, but because they’ve grown with you.

Maybe the same is true for life itself. We shouldn’t hold back waiting for the “perfect moment.” We should just use what we have, live with it, and let it collect its marks along the way.

x, myle.