Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 400276

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What our possessions say about us

Posted by tinydancer on October 8, 2004, at 4:47:57

T and I happened to be eyeing my purse talking about possessions, as that's been the "hot topic" as of late. I've been buying a lot to compensate for the loneliness and all that. I remarked to him that I often imagine what someone would think about me if they found the contents of my purse and went through them. It was kind of fun talking about it. He commented and I was sort of inquiring about his "backpack" that he always has with him (my T is too tough for suitcases hehee!!) I just loved his answer.

"Well, I think if anyone was to look through my stuff, like my bag...They would probably think....that I was DEAD." ROTFL!

I was shrieking laughing (as I often am). It was just too perfect....

So what do you think? What conclusions might one make rifling through your handbag?

If someone looked through mine they would see pretty fast that:

*not exactly a cheap date(Dior and Lancome lipsticks)
*organizational freak (no trash or loose papers, tissues, extra batteries for Discman, gum,bus and train schedules)
*a little particular (I've got one wallet for cards, and one for spare change)
*I only have 2 keys,and no car key, so someone might think that is a bit strange (?)

And depending on the CD in the discman or books I'm toting around...who knows?

Can't think of anything else....

 

Re: What our possessions say about us » tinydancer

Posted by Annierose on October 8, 2004, at 6:34:00

In reply to What our possessions say about us, posted by tinydancer on October 8, 2004, at 4:47:57

I'm sorry, what did your T mean that his contents would imply that he was DEAD? Old food? dirty tissues?
I'm an organizational freak too. Open up my wallet and all my bills face in the same direction, and in numerical order. I clean out my purse weekly, to rid the contents of gum wrappers, ticket stubs, etc.

 

Re: What our possessions say about us

Posted by antigua on October 8, 2004, at 11:40:02

In reply to Re: What our possessions say about us » tinydancer, posted by Annierose on October 8, 2004, at 6:34:00

Everyone would know what a mess I really am. My outward appearance is neat, not particular or precise, but my purse is an absolute mess. No cosmetics, but lots of pens and pencils to write with at a moment's notice (small notebook, too). Stray bits of jewelry (daughter's lost earring or my broken one) and lots of grocery lists. Dollars all over the place, but most of the change in my little red heart-shaped purse my mother gave me.
antigua

 

Re: What our possessions say about us » antigua

Posted by Daisym on October 8, 2004, at 21:31:57

In reply to Re: What our possessions say about us, posted by antigua on October 8, 2004, at 11:40:02

You would instantly know I work with or have little kids...toys, tissues, etc. I have a huge key ring, tons of papers and bills and mail, etc. My purse weighs a ton because I never get the change out of the bottom. There are lots of pictures of my kids and lots of coupon type things, which I never remember to use. I always have a role of life savers, due to diabetics in my family. OH, and I have paper-money stuck where ever. Sometimes even in the wallet.

Who says I don't lift weights?

 

I am insane

Posted by shortelise on October 9, 2004, at 1:12:39

In reply to What our possessions say about us, posted by tinydancer on October 8, 2004, at 4:47:57

I think it would largely depend on who was doing the looking.

My wallet is full of receipts, stuffed with them, then compeltely empty of them, because I take them out and put them on my desk where they become part of that mess.

A key holder with a tiny flashlight and a tiny folding knife. Yes, I have fogotten and taken it on a plane once or twice.

My fountain pen.

A folding paper fan (menopause, y'know).

Sunglasses. Reading glasses.

Small thing of sunblock.

Cloth handkerchief, nicely ironed and folded. I replace it wtih a clean one when I've used it.

Breath mints.

A fruit and nut bar.

And a bunch of papers. Grocery receipts, grocery lists new and old, library receipts, lists, notes, etc. A few errant candies in the bottom, loose change, a hair elastic, a hair clip, some hair, an old earplug, and some other things that I prefer not to consider.

I have a bag in my purse with stuff in it. Migraine pills including abortives and narcotics. Diazepam. Peptobismal (sp?) tablets. A tape measure. Lipstick (a delicious pink Chanel that I rarely wear). A little compact and puff with looose powder - it's so cute! Bandaids, tiny bottle of hand sanitizer (did you know that the handle of a shopping cart is one of the most germ infested things we touch? Ugh!) A tiny spray bottle of room spray. Tiny dental floss. Tiny face cream. Tiny magnifying glass.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go turn myself in to the nearest mental health care professional.

ShortE

 

Re: What our possessions say about us

Posted by Dinah on October 9, 2004, at 8:21:16

In reply to What our possessions say about us, posted by tinydancer on October 8, 2004, at 4:47:57

That I'm a bit sloppy, have a lot of stress related medical problems (migraine meds, IBS meds, klonopin, and I'm about to add some Risperdal).

But what I think I'll notice, while others might not, is that at least half of what's in my purse is stuff I haven't used for years. Which is a good reminder that if I haven't opened it for a year, it's time to throw it out. :(

 

Re: What our possessions say about us

Posted by tinydancer on October 9, 2004, at 10:25:30

In reply to Re: What our possessions say about us » tinydancer, posted by Annierose on October 8, 2004, at 6:34:00

> I'm sorry, what did your T mean that his contents would imply that he was DEAD? Old food? dirty tissues?
> I'm an organizational freak too. Open up my wallet and all my bills face in the same direction, and in numerical order. I clean out my purse weekly, to rid the contents of gum wrappers, ticket stubs, etc.

I clean my purse out every day. HAHA....Scary....I can't stand to have bits of anything in there. Also I change purses with outfits, so....

About the dead comment. Because he didn't have "anything". His lack of personal items would be the indication of his non-aliveness. :)

 

Re: What our possessions say about us » Dinah

Posted by tinydancer on October 9, 2004, at 10:28:44

In reply to Re: What our possessions say about us, posted by Dinah on October 9, 2004, at 8:21:16

> That I'm a bit sloppy, have a lot of stress related medical problems (migraine meds, IBS meds, klonopin, and I'm about to add some Risperdal).
>
Risperdal was the one medication I felt helped so incredibly much, until I had a huge allergic reaction to it and ended up in the hospital where I was so blown up that it hurt to raise my arms up and down.

I have IBS too, but my doctor is pissed because I don't change my eating habits and am prone to eating disorder of the week. This results in having minimum 2 attacks every day and therapy days are the worst. Just part of the "punish myself at all opportunities" program.

 

Ok, seriously then » tinydancer

Posted by shortelise on October 9, 2004, at 12:14:39

In reply to What our possessions say about us, posted by tinydancer on October 8, 2004, at 4:47:57

I think what we have and how we keep says an enormous amount about us.

Alos, how we dress.

And how we carry ourselves.

Everything about a person is an indication of who they are.

But none of it tells a whole story, does it? That my purse and house is messsy is completely contradicted by my work habits. I must be completely organized and tidy when I work.

My linen cupboards are very tidy.

I have a place for everything and I always put it back there - the place might be messy, but it holds certain things that are always there.

My car, well, it's a disgrace. Really. A terrible disgrace. A shame. Once my T left right after I did and he saw my car ... and I was so ashamed. Not that I did anything differently, but I was ashamed.

ShortE

 

My car

Posted by antigua on October 9, 2004, at 12:42:09

In reply to Ok, seriously then » tinydancer, posted by shortelise on October 9, 2004, at 12:14:39

Now, my car is a totally different story. It's neat as a pin most times. I like to drive w/the windows open so I don't want pieces of paper flying around the backseat. I remove all trash just about every day, which isn't easy w/the kids eating and drinking on their way somewhere. antigua

 

Re: What our possessions say about us

Posted by Poet on October 9, 2004, at 15:26:53

In reply to What our possessions say about us, posted by tinydancer on October 8, 2004, at 4:47:57

My purse contains

sunglasses
wallet w/attached coin purse
bubblegum flavored lip balm
comb/brush combination thing that I never use
crumpled tissue
credit card holder because I have too damn many of them

When I feel good about myself, my purse always matches my shoes. I guess I can guage the level of my mental state by if my shoes and purse are the same color. What does that say? Obsessive? Perfectionist? Oh, I so long to be perfect.

Poet

 

Re: I'm impressed with anyone who can match

Posted by Dinah on October 9, 2004, at 21:26:51

In reply to Re: What our possessions say about us, posted by Poet on October 9, 2004, at 15:26:53

purses and shoes.

I buy a nice tapestry purse every few years, and keep it till it breaks or wears out. Since tapestry rarely wears out, I usually keep it till some of the hardware breaks.

I adore tapestry. My daytimer is also tapestry. I love to be able to run my fingers over it when I'm feeling anxious. It's very soothing.

I did buy a fun photo purse with a picture of a dog that looks just like my youngest. My husband hates it and seriously considered threatening to refuse to be seen in public with me carrying it. :)

 

However, I'm inspired

Posted by Dinah on October 9, 2004, at 21:30:23

In reply to Re: I'm impressed with anyone who can match, posted by Dinah on October 9, 2004, at 21:26:51

Clearly if I haven't opened some of the smaller bags in my purse for years, I must not need the contents.

Yet...

Aren't there times when you desperately need a pair of nail clippers or scissors or a bandaid? And when you do, aren't you really glad to find that folded crumpled one in your purse?

And there's enough OCD in me to know that even though I no longer need the ultra slim pursepack of wipies frequently, if I do need them, I'm going to need them a *lot*. And right away.

 

Re: I'm impressed with anyone who can match » Dinah

Posted by Poet on October 11, 2004, at 15:33:13

In reply to Re: I'm impressed with anyone who can match, posted by Dinah on October 9, 2004, at 21:26:51

I have a tapestry checkbook cover. I think it looks very elegant even though my checks have the Simpsons on them.

Poet

 

Re: What our possessions say about us

Posted by tai daluna on October 15, 2004, at 5:04:48

In reply to What our possessions say about us, posted by tinydancer on October 8, 2004, at 4:47:57

oh, this thread is fun!
well, if you looked in my purse you would find a bottle of water, myriad crumpled slips and receipts, no money, no wallet, cigarettes and cigarette butts (i hate littering), prescription pills (ativan; emergency AD in case i forget to take my morning pill and remember while i am out), tylenol, lifesavers, gum, many books of matches full of damp matches (wet from the water bottle), a few unfunctioning lighters, a knife, keys (incl. two sets of the same car keys), a stuffed tiger keychain w/ no keys and a broken chain, an emergency granola bar, a little paper umbrella from hawaii that i've kept for a year now in exactly the same pocket i put it in when i was in hawaii a year ago (it's lucky!), a pic of my hubby, mints from many restraurants, inhaler/ emergency antihistamines, cell phone, unpaid bills that have been used to jot down phone numbers/addresses, choke chain for a dog i no longer have...

so, tell me, what does that say about me? lmao. maybe i should clean my purse out.
tai

 

possessions say

Posted by just plain jane on October 17, 2004, at 1:42:42

In reply to Re: What our possessions say about us, posted by Poet on October 9, 2004, at 15:26:53

There are a number of bags I use, none would qualify being called a purse.

There's my "hippie bag" (my son named it) which is homemade, naugahyde covered with fabric from a Guatemalan shirt I had and wore til it was falling apart. There is a handle at the top of the back made from an old nylon horse lead and two shoulder straps, made from seat belts, for carrying it backpack style. It is about 16" X 20" X 5"; my laptop in its padded case fits neatly inside, along with cords, software, my wallet, paperwork, pockets for pens & pencils. An eraser. It didn't start out to be a computer bag, it was made for me to carry my college books and personal crap in.

There is my "sport bag", which more resembles a purse than my hippie bag does. It's navy blue cordura 12" wide. The big compartment is 4" thick and 8" tall, the middle one about half that size, a flat compartment, a little change pocket, and a horizontal cell phone pouch. I picked this baby up at a flea market. It has in it a couple papers, pack of hair ties, check book/wallet - well organized, address book, zip-lok bag with puppy teeth in it, leash snaps, tiny pulleys, keys, kidskin work gloves, Xanax, Advil, Chlorphenirimine, loose hair ties, chap stick, two contact lens cases, waterproof matches, two nail clippers, a lighter, loose change, two Crescent brand adjustable wrenches, a Gerber multitool, business cards in the phone case, and change in the pouch.
Always subject to change.
I think my possessions say I am labor-oriented.
Now, my truck...
I've got weed whackers, pole saw, fence post hole diggers, spools of electric tape fence, toolbox full of Craftsman hand tools, pitchfork, air tank, fencing supplies, post pounder, post remover, huge bungee net, levels, laser leveling and transit equipment, gas cans, car ramps, jumper cables, spare tire, rope and cord (lots of it), feed buckets, halters and lead ropes, magic marker, tamping pole, shovels, a rubber raincoat, sawyer's boots tennis shoes, spare socks, blue jeans, a blanket, retractable leashes, food and water pans, crow bar, hatchet, chain saw, carpenter's hammer, sledge hammer, work gloves, motor oil, a bag for garbage, and who knows what I forgot. There's change in the console and maybe a few bucks in the ashtray. Paper, user's manual and a Chilton's manual for the truck, dog treats, spare fuses and flasher, books, a CB radio and more stuff I'm forgetting.

My belongings say I like to be prepared and hate being without my equipment. They say I am comfortable in the dark (no flashlght).

What do you think my possessions say?

just plain jane

 

Re: possessions say » just plain jane

Posted by shortelise on October 17, 2004, at 13:01:07

In reply to possessions say, posted by just plain jane on October 17, 2004, at 1:42:42

Oh, heavens, if I include my car in this ... because I live in the city, I cannot leave my kit in my car, so it wouldn't be quite as much fun as yours.

Vell, my dee-ah, ze possessions as you descrrrrrrribe zem show zat you fear being caught unprepared, you must be in a position to rescue, to mend, to survive.

And you never know when you are going to need to build a house.

More boosheet from the ShortE mill.


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