Fascinating objects and collected memories: A chance to describe the things you find interesting

I think a collection is a very personal thing, at least for me anyway, so when you say about things not really being interesting or unusual, I think the value is more in the personal elements rather than rarity of an object. Some of my ‘special objects’ as a child were nothing more than small and intricate things that had been disposed of by others. I was like a magpie of sorts I suppose.

The things you described sound great and all clearly meant something to you. I had a troll when I was younger- I can see why you thought they were cheeky!

I’m grateful to you for sharing the picture of Paws too. I can see how important Paws is. I’m sorry for the reasons you are now the custodian, but can also appreciate why you take such pride in it. I too hold many keepsakes in honour and memory of those who we have lost. I like to take some time every now and again to appreciate each of them.

I have had a rock on display in every home I have lived in since I received it as a present from my grandad at the age of 10. He gave it this incredible back story about it being a specific ‘wishing rock’ from Japan that, being undiagnosed autistic, I bought entirely. I used to retell the back story to everyone who asked about it, still fully believing it myself. It was only after he died a couple of years ago that I found out it was just a rock from the garden centre. I laughed so much when I found out- it was just like him. My entire family were surprised to learn that I had believed the story, especially for so long, and that I still had the rock on display. Dry humour at its best and, in my opinion, now makes for a better story. His legacy lives on.

Well I don’t know what to say to all of those kind words. Thank you. I very much tend to doubt myself, it’s an old habit that’s proving hard to break.

Your qidea of combining your nature themed art and poetry is a lovely one. I can really see how that would offer you exactly what you intend it to. I hope you get round to doing it. Speaking of your interests and intentions really isn’t something you need to apologise for. In fact, it’s been great to read your ideas.

I wish you luck with it all. In fact, if you ever feel like posting any updates on your works, I’m sure a lot of us here would take an interest!

Of course I read your poem, and I loved it. Heartwarming and funny in that it was sad and relatable. I thought it was cleverly written, though that wasn't the point. You should feel proud, it really was a good poem.

I loved your woodwork! I hope you soon find your confidence. 

I really want to put my nature themed art and poetry together. I have this idea about it being used to create a peaceful place, as a collection,  to help with anxiety. Perhaps as  book. I don't know. Any way I'm waffling about myself, I do that, I'm sorry.

You really are very creative, and that's a truly beautiful talent. Don't doubt yourself.

Throughout my life, I have gone through phases of collecting things, although nothing that I would consider particularly interesting or unusual. 

As a child, I built up a collection of miniature dolls; gifts that relatives bought me if they had been on a foreign holiday, dressed in the national costume of the country they had visited.

During the late 1980s, I then went through a phase of collecting trolls as they had suddenly become rather popular. They appealed to me because they looked slightly cheeky, and I liked their brightly-coloured hair.

In my late twenties, I found myself collecting a set of Victorian-looking teddy bear figurines. 

The one thing that has been more than a passing fad is collecting dogs (not real ones, I hasten to add), or items featuring dogs. I have an assortment of miniature dog figurines, a realistic-looking Jack Russell ornament in my garden, and soft toy dogs (including a dementia-friendly robotic dog).

Out of all my soft toy dogs, the one featured in the photograph below has sentimental value. I bought it for my terminally ill dad when it was his final Christmas. He wasn't really one for cute and cuddly soft toys, so the last thing I had anticipated was that he would form a close attachment to 'Paws'. It remained with my dad until his death and was also in attendance at my dad's funeral and 'wake'. I consider it an honour and a privilege to now be the custodian of 'Paws'. 

Pikl said:

Trees are amazing and beautiful, with a wonderful energy. I love the patterns in woodgrain, and the smell of wood. 

Oh I couldn’t agree more! It’s where I feel most at home. A tree near some gently moving water is my happiest place. Where I’m most at peace.

Pikl said:

I would tell myself that I saw the world in 3D whilst others saw it in 2D. It was my way of explaining to myself why I saw things so differently than others. 

This is such a nice way of expressing it. Very helpfully visual too. It matches how I feel about certain things that others just seem blind to.

Pikl said:

Did you enjoy writing your poem?

I honestly don’t know. I was in a bit of a tricky mindset at the time, but I think it helped. It’s not very good as a piece of writing, but it helped me communicate what I’d been feeling. You don’t need to read it, but I have included the link to it below if you so wished to.

https://community.autism.org.uk/f/miscellaneous-and-chat/29947/my-attempt-at-writing-i-don-t-know-if-i-can-go-as-far-as-to-call-it-creative 

Pikl said:

I would love to see images of your woodwork

Maybe one day I will feel brave enough to share some of my projects. I will include this photo of something I made a few years ago for the tables at my wedding. Each table had a different one and they were all hand made and the pictures were hand painted (I did use a stencil for the lettering though). My woodworking has come on a bit since then, but my confidence talking about it doesn’t quite match up yet. Maybe in time.

The notion of a secret level of joy that you wrote about is wonderful! I think you’re correct in this. We get so much from our interests.

And also, I’m pleased that you got something from this thread. No thanks necessary, I’m just grateful to have had the conversation. So, thanks!

Trees are amazing and beautiful, with a wonderful energy. I love the patterns in woodgrain, and the smell of wood. 

I would tell myself that I saw the world in 3D whilst others saw it in 2D. It was my way of explaining to myself why I saw things so differently than others. 

Did you enjoy writing your poem? I would love to see images of your woodwork. 

If you think about it, we have a depth of passion in our interests that others never experience. It's like a secret level of joy they are unable to unlock. It makes me feel very lucky.

Thank you so much for the positivity boost you and your thread have given me.

A lovely photograph. I was contemplating doing one of my collection of things, but technology and all that.

On another note, I like the design of your shelves!

I like the fact that each item has a story for you, my collection does the same for me. I’m sorry for your loss, but am glad that you have the box of plectrums as a positive reminder. 

The elephants are cool too. They are my favourite animal and we have a set of nice wooden ones in our living room.

The way you describe your collection is wonderful. I think Dumbledores quote works well here. ‘Happiness can be found in the darkest of places, if one remembers to turn on the light’. A collection, or spending time doing what you love, can be this light.

It’s on my bucket list of things to do. I’m really into woodwork, so have a lot to do here first, but I will give it a go at some point. I have some nice pens for this, but I didn’t really use them as intended. Instead I dismantled them into small pieces and prefer them that way! Small and intricate, don’t know why, but they are there and ready to go.

I had a go at writing some poetry on here recently. It was about losing the will to talk. I think I called it ‘Tip of my Tongue’ or something like that. It was a different experience for me.

I can see your passion for this, I think it similar to how I see the beauty of trees and wood grain patterns. It’s good to have a passionate interest. It’s a shame that so many don’t have this.

You really should give calligraphy a proper go! I did some as a teen, before I got into painting. Art and research are my interests. 

I love writing poetry, it's like a painting with words. Isn't it funny that communication is also an art form. And that art also communicates. Haha this is where I'm normally called weird. I get so excited, and I want so badly for others to see what I see, because it is beautiful and amazing. 

Thank you so much Glitter. I was reading about your collection and it's magical. Really is a special collection, not of things, of memories and positive emotions. I am naturally very childlike and I've fought hard to suppress it, as that's not being very adult. You have inspired me to not lose that wonder and be more me. Thank you xx

Your folders sound amazing! I wish I could look through them.  That kind of passion is beautiful. 

Yay stuff!!!!  All of the things!!!!  

These are the shelves in my bedroom. It may look random, but each item is a piece of my life that I treasure and remember.  Playing ponies with my sibling was my safe zone as a child, in a world of magic and wonder where everyone is welcome.  The yellow and blue thing dangling underneath is a head piece from when me and my daughter dressed up at ponycon and all those happy memories were extended and shared with her.  On the right is a rainbow heart I bought from our local gay pride event.  My dad's box of plectrums, as he passed away this year and this item reminds me of so much that was positive about him.  Dragons and elephants, because I've collected both and they bring me so much comfort to think about.  And angel delight because of some smutty fanfiction that I wrote for a bit of fun and ended up making a lot of wonderful Internet connrctions from.

I fill my space with positive things to keep the shadows of my past at bay, because the only way to overcome the darkness is to bring in the light.

Pikl said:

And now I'm getting myself over excited.

Brilliant! I was hoping that by giving people a chance to talk about what they are interested in, some of those positive feelings might come to the forefront.

It’s fascinating to hear how you collect and organise your interests. The folders on autism and you sound interesting, I did something similar but on a much smaller scale when looking for reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

Unfortunately I think many of us here know that feeling of talking at someone, but I think something wonderful that this space can offer, if we let it, that the outside can’t really is a chance to write at length about the things that interest us, judgement free. We are so used to stopping ourselves, but I don’t think we need to here. If you want to write more, please do. Dyslexia and energy levels stop me sometimes too, but I come back to it whenever I can.

I have lost too many hours to watching calligraphy videos- it can be so satisfying. I’d love to give it a proper go one day. I think music notation (even though I don’t read it either) can have the look of calligraphy to it. But maybe thats what I see due to not knowing what any of it means! 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Please feel free to add any more if you feel you want to.

Hi Oakling,

I'm not really a collector of physical things. That being said I do have a growing acquisition of crystals, I'm interested in spirituality. 

I do like collecting information, as in I like to do research, I hand write it and put it into ringbinders. I have my folder about things relating to autism. And one about me (just my way of trying to understand myself). A spirituality folder, though my research has jumped about a lot in that field. And there's my folder on communication, which actually relates a lot to the arts. I like the concept of art, music and performance as forms of communication. Though I'm particularly fond of silent forms of communication. 

I did follow a colleague about the other month talking at her about communication. And from the responses she made ( when looking back) I was definitely talking at her and not to her. Ooops. I get very excited that music is a universal written language, though I can't actually read music. Something I keep meaning to learn. I also want to explore more about calligraphy and other written forms of communication. And now I'm getting myself over excited.