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Bored Panda

Entertainment

Mantas Kačerauskas

101 Fascinating Photos Demonstrating Just How Much Objects Can Change Over Time

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If you want to get your money’s worth for an object you’ve purchased, you have to actually use it. You can’t hide it in a cupboard or pull it out only once a year when Grandma comes to visit. And yes, using things regularly will result in some wear and tear, but it can actually be pretty amazing to see just how much objects transform throughout years of usage.

To celebrate items that have definitely served their purpose, Bored Panda has compiled a list of photos from around the internet of worn-down objects. From articles of clothing to floor tiles, we hope you enjoy seeing the drastic transformations that these items have undergone. And be sure to upvote the ones that you find most impressive!

#1 Said Goodbye To My Best Friend After 13 Years. This Is Is Vaccination Tag All Worn Down After A Lifetime Of Tinking Against His Water Bowl. Rip Little Man

#2 The Cover Of George Orwell's, "1984," Becomes Less Censored With Wear

#3 This Plaque In Prague Has Been Rubbed To A Shiny Gold Because, For Centuries, Passersby Have Touched The Dog For Good Luck And To Reassure Him That He's A Very Good Boy

Have you ever purchased something that you were so excited to buy that you never used it? Maybe you have a box of unworn sneakers sitting in your closet, an unopened record by your favorite band, or a gorgeous mug that you’re terrified to taint with coffee. But life is short; we only get around 90 years (and that’s if we’re lucky!), so we shouldn’t be scared of using the items that we have.

Now, if you’re a huge collector and you’re trying to resell those items in mint condition in the future, fair enough. But are you really sure that you’ll be able to increase their value? Supposedly, collectibles made from sterling silver, vintage books, oil paintings, vinyl records, wristwatches, and silver coins will become more valuable over the years. But even those items aren’t guaranteed to skyrocket in value. If the past decade has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t predict the future.

#4 Cobb’s Mat From Eager Tapping When He Hears The Car Pull Up

#5 For A Lot Of People, He Is A Good Boi

#6 How Many Footsteps Would It Take To Wear Stone Steps Down To This Point?

Society in general has an irrational fear of aging. Women are constantly told to get cosmetic treatments, injectables, and surgeries to make their faces look younger. And celebrities are often shamed for appearing “old.” But it’s completely unfair for us to expect anyone or anything to exist without showing any visible signs of aging.

Just like a human will develop scars, freckles, wrinkles, and sun spots from living a full life, the objects that you use every single day will start to visibly transform over time too. It can be disappointing to see your favorite jeans from 20 years ago start to tear and fade. But you have to look on the bright side: you’ve experienced so many beautiful memories in those pants. And they can tell countless stories! That’s something that a brand new pair simply can’t do.

#7 My Radio Button Has Worn Out To Be A Victorian Portrait

#8 The Way The Sun Has Weathered This Sign So It Looks Like Its Heavy Metal Style

#9 All The Letters On My GF's Lotion Bottle Started Falling Off

Another beautiful aspect of seeing objects transform over time through plenty of usage is the fact that they’re not being thrown away unnecessarily. Capitalism has convinced many people that they need to replace their items as soon as a newer, shinier thing comes along. But that’s a lie we’ve been told to keep companies earning profits. The truth is that items should be cherished and used until they no longer work. Once they’ve fully served their purpose, they can be recycled, repurposed, or eventually thrown away.

#10 This Rock Eroded By The Waves

#11 Before And After Powerwashing. New York Used To Be A Much Dirtier City Back When The Northeast Ran On Coal Plants

#12 When My Brother Was Born In 1985, My Mother Purchased Two Identical Teddy Bears. The One On The Left Has Been My Brother's For 30 Years, The One On The Right Has Been Kept In Storage For My Brother's First Child Who Was Born Today

The problem with this throwaway culture that we have today is that it’s detrimental to the planet. Earth.org warns that fast fashion produces 92 million tons of waste each year. Meanwhile, 39,000 coffee pods are produced around the globe every minute, and 29,000 of these will end up in a landfill. Even paper towels are destructive, as they contribute to deforestation while being created, and they often take months or years to decompose in landfills.

#13 Dogs Paw Has Worn The Paint Away

#14 The Flooring In The Waiting Area At This Pizzeria Is So Worn You Can See The Old Floor

#15 14 Years Of Scratches

While social media makes it seem like it’s cool to flex about all of the newest gadgets that you have online, we believe that it’s actually much more impressive to hold onto items for years, or even decades. Anyone can walk into a shop and buy a new coffee table. But it takes a special kind of person to take care of their table and cherish it for 50 years. If a leg breaks off, you can repair it, rather than buy a new one. If the paint job wears down, you can repaint it!

#16 My Sheaffer Reminder Ballpoint Pen. This Has Been In My Pocket Every Weekday For The Last 15 Years. It Used To Belong To My Grand-Father. I Know He Used It Because The Brass Was Already Starting To Wear Through When I Got It. They Still Make The Refills For It

#17 My Dad Has Had The Same Wallet For So Long His Driver's License Photo Is Imprinted On The Plastic

#18 The Comparison Of Right Handed And Left Handed People At My High School

If you’re feeling inspired by this list, and you want to ensure that your own items last a lifetime, Money.com has some advice. First, when it comes to clothing and textiles, you need to learn some laundry skills. Preserving your clothing really comes down to washing and drying it properly. You might even need to get special items dry-cleaned. But it’ll be worth it when you can brag about wearing the same jacket for decades!

#19 Staples From Posters After Four Decades

#20 If You Tell The Dog To "Go Get Your Gator" She'll Bring Back Any One Of These

#21 This Bank Floor

Another important aspect in making your items last is knowing how to repair them. Whether it’s patching up a hole, sewing a button back on, or removing a stain, most things can easily be fixed with a little tender love and care. If you invest in a small sewing kit, you can save yourself hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars in the long run. And if the job is too complicated for you, you can always take the item to a professional before going out to buy something new.

#22 The Wear Marks On This Tetherball Pole

#23 New £500 Bundle Of £5 Notes Compared To Used Ones

#24 12 Years Of My Dog Using Her Paw To Open The Door

Are you enjoying these fascinating photos of items that have lived long, eventful lives, pandas? Keep upvoting the things that you imagine have plenty of stories to tell, and let us know in the comments below what objects you’ve been holding onto the longest. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another article from Bored Panda featuring similar photos, look no further than right here!