On the desire to possess beautiful things

I bought a beautiful iPhone case today – leather and wood, and such lovely craftsmanship. I needed one of course – we’ve all lost a phone through dropping it or getting it wet at the beach; however, I’m not sure I ‘needed’ one designed in Paris.

Where does our desire to ‘possess’ things come from?

I’m a collector and always have been. If I see a beautiful object – a piece of jewelry, a vintage cup or plate, I want to take it home with me and look at it, wear it, use it …

Not everyone feels this way about objects or clothes and can happily admire them and move on. I wasn’t deprived as a child so it’s not come from a background of doing without – and if it’s an obsession, then I suppose there are worse things to be obsessed about.

Moving countries has made me reflect on how much of what I own I actually need. I’ve arrived in Singapore with 3 suitcases of clothes and shoes, and none of my beautiful possessions. Of course I’ll go back for my silver champagne bucket and my more precious holiday momentoes, pictures, vases etc, but the point is I’ve moved away and am not particularly fussed about my previously adored objects.  To be truthful there is something so liberating about removing ‘stuff’ from our lives, hence the popularity of Marie Kondo and her KonMari method of removing clutter from our lives.

Will I start collecting again in my new home? Yes of course but I vow to make a conscious effort to resist buying things just for the sake of owning them, only to put them in a drawer and forget them. A case in point is the beautiful jeweled necklace I bought in Rajasthan but never quite have the appropriate occasion to wear…