#study spaces

19.11.24.

I've grown to love noticing my things developing a patina. In my younger years I tried very hard to keep things pristine, to maintain the natural sterility of a new item for as long as I could. Every mark made through improper handling was a mistake, something I perceived as a devaluation of the object in question. Indicative of my mindset, perhaps; that constant desire for perfection.

Somewhere along the road, however, things shifted. I find myself now admiring the little nicks and scratches my everyday companions accumulate. A once black travel mug has scuffed to reveal the aluminum beneath, a matte pen has gained a luster. Rocks stick in the lug sole of leather boots, grooves marking where I wrap the laces around my ankles. A patina is unique to the individual, irreplicable. An indication of time, use, of enjoyment and familiarity. A reflection of myself and the life I've thus far led.

week 2/12