Repurposed sentimental value

[CeriseNoire]

Of course, we all have objects that hold some kind of sentimental value, or some memory attached to them. However, sometimes the memories aren't necessarily those you want to keep, so those items end up at the bottom of drawers or back of closets. But what about reassigning memories?

I have a dress, which I wore for an evening out. At this point, the evening in question is a memory with an unpleasant aftertaste, and I was tempted, at first, to do the stereotypical girly thing and and relegate it to the abyss of forgotten clothes, in the deepest recesses of my closet.

Then I got an idea. Some friends and I decided to plan an outing for Friday night (since we have the day off) and choose a place that requires dressing our best. Obviously, the dress came to mind. I feel gorgeous when I have it on. It frames my best assets and is quite forgiving of my imperfections. And I can't help but feel sexy in it. So I figure I'll wear it to this outing, laugh, enjoy good food and conversation, in other words, assign it a brand new memory.

From then on, that dress will make me smile whenever I look at it.

So, have you ever assigned new memories to something? Or wish you had? Feel free to share, or to just shake your heads at my random ramblings.

 

[LoquaciousLady]

That's a good idea. If I were the type for sentimentality I might try it. As it is, I think I'll suggest it to some friends.

 

[The_Fool]

I think it is a great idea. From a certain standpoint you are using this repurposing to help put that bad memory behind. But that is much to deep for this fool....

I will simply say that I am sure I would enjoy seeing you both in....and out....of that dress....

 

[slyc_willie]

I think it is a wonderful thing to take something that reminds you of a bad memory and reassign it to a new and more positive one. We all have memories we'd rather not keep, and we all have things that remind us of some of those memories.

I hope that, after this weekend, that dress will give you a smile whenever you don it.

 

[sweetness6280]

It's a great way to take back ownership. I have done it with something much too dark to share, but I learned that in doing so, that other person no longer has any power to hurt me. There are things that used to be painful to see/smell/use, but now they invoke only happy memories.

Have a fabulous time.

I'm with the Fool... see you in or out.

 

[impressive]

So, have you ever assigned new memories to something? Or wish you had? Feel free to share, or to just shake your heads at my random ramblings.

Depends on the impact of the original. If the cut is deep, I want the reminders AWAY from me.

 

[Guest]

Depends on the impact of the original. If the cut is deep, I want the reminders AWAY from me.

Yes.

I finally got rid of a dress I wore to a funeral because I just couldn't wear it again.

For me, it's better off gone.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Fool, Sweetness: what is this? The let's get Cerise out of her clothes thread?
(btw, nice to meet you, Sweetness)

slyc, thanks for the well wishes.

Imp, I agree with you. Had it been a memory of something important enough to be really painful, I think I would have had to get rid of the dress.

 

[impressive]

Imp, I agree with you. Had it been a memory of something important enough to be really painful, I think I would have had to get rid of the dress.

There are places ... physical locations ... that carry memories, too. And smells.

 

[jomar]

Awesome idea. I'm going to steal it.

 

[CeriseNoire]

There are places ... physical locations ... that carry memories, too. And smells.

Ah, places... I do have a bad tendency to run away

 

[sweetness6280]

Fool, Sweetness: what is this? The let's get Cerise out of her clothes thread?
(btw, nice to meet you, Sweetness)

slyc, thanks for the well wishes.

Imp, I agree with you. Had it been a memory of something important enough to be really painful, I think I would have had to get rid of the dress.

Who, me?

Nice to meet you too.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I think you're doing a really good job with this idea. Won't work for me as none of my nasty memories are attached to a physical thing but for those whose are . . . good thinking! And I'm with Sweetness and Fool.

 

[rgraham666]

I'm the type who throws things away if they have painful memories.

I haven't a single picture of my ex-wife. Nor any thing we bought together as a couple.

They're gone, she's gone. Don't want to remember.

If you can attach new and happy memories to something, Cerise, more power to you.

 

[impressive]

I'm the type who throws things away if they have painful memories.

I haven't a single picture of my ex-wife. Nor any thing we bought together as a couple.

They're gone, she's gone. Don't want to remember.

If you can attach new and happy memories to something, Cerise, more power to you.

My ex is in the process of ridding himself of everything I've ever given him.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

Yes.

I finally got rid of a dress I wore to a funeral because I just couldn't wear it again.

For me, it's better off gone.

Some "friends" of mine in high school made a microcassette recording of a crush of mine saying how much she hates me. I think it's still lying around somewhere in some box. I really ought to destroy it.

Some pains are difficult to let go of.

 

[CeriseNoire]

I'm the type who throws things away if they have painful memories.

I haven't a single picture of my ex-wife. Nor any thing we bought together as a couple.

They're gone, she's gone. Don't want to remember.

If you can attach new and happy memories to something, Cerise, more power to you.

Well, I understand that too. Actually that kind of was my first reaction. There was a piece of jewelry that I put in a box in a drawer, and pictures and such are gone. But when it came to the dress, I just felt like keeping it. Maybe it's because I rarely get to wear dresses, maybe it's because I almost never feel sexy like I do when I put it on, or maybe it's because the dress is my favorite color.

Then again, I don't know if it'll work. Guess I'll see how I feel when I look at it Saturday morning.

 

[PhDinSB]

this isn't exactly what you're talking about, but recently, i met a maureen, who is a pretty cool person, and we've gotten to be pretty good friends and in the process, she's been able to erase the usually negative meaning that i had assigned to the name maureen due to my skanky ex.

 

[damppanties]

There are places ... physical locations ... that carry memories, too. And smells.

And songs.

 

[TE999]

And songs.

So true--each carries a memory--some good--some bad--but still memories.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Or, how about taking a memory, and inventing the object that will remind you of it?

SOmeone I adore mentioned a fantasy of me in a gold mini-skirt. This is not something that I would wear in a million years-- but somehow-- now, I have. I can remember that skirt.

 

[neonlyte]

I just love re-visiting places that hold memories. Even bad memories of places can be re-shaped by seeing them through the eyes of someone else.

 

[Vermilion]

I have a little blue topaz pendant that I love, but it was given to me by a really nasty ex. He ruined my self-confidence for a good long while. Anyway. Last xmas I saw some earring that matched it and pointed them out to the Fiance who bought them for me for Xmas... now I wear the pendant and earrings together and it feels like the Fiance gave me all three.

I have a ring that a reallt lovely ex bought me. It wasn;t right between us and I dumped him, but I still feel bad about how I did it. I rarely wear that ring, because it makes me feel terrible all over again about how I treated him. I hope he's OK.

x
V

 

[impressive]

And songs.

And pictures. Pictures that should evoke only good feelings, but because of the events associated with them, cause a far different reaction.

Pain sucks.

 

[CeriseNoire]

And pictures. Pictures that should evoke only good feelings, but because of the events associated with them, cause a far different reaction.

Pain sucks.

Yeah, pictures. I don't think those can have new memories attached to them. After all, they are memories frozen in time.

*hugs for Imp* just because