#35: Wear and Tear

Children can be a destructive force. That is just how they are. «Objects should break while being used, not just sit idle on a shelf or in a box» my grandfather used to say.

Putting evil intention and childish clumsiness aside, there is a phenomenon called wear and tear.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines wear and tear as «the damage that happens to an object in ordinary use during a period». Sounds like an inevitable outcome.

But let’s dissect the definition into its two main components.

First, the damage seems to be a consequence of «ordinary use». However, picking up on my grandfather’s wisdom, «not using» an object might also cause it to break at some point. Just give it enough time. The example of the aircraft proves that point. Staying on the ground represents the bigger risk to the aircraft to rust and malfunction than actually spending time in the air.

Second, the definition suggests that wear and tear only applies to «objects».

What else could possibly be subject to «wear and tear»?

Words?

Ideas?

Dreams?

To be honest, I am not sure where I am trying to get with this. However, I am curious to explore this further. There is definitely more to this than meets the eye.

Rupi Kaur, who is so gifted in choosing her words carefully, has a clear view on this:

sometimes

i stop myself from

saying the words out loud

as if leaving my mouth too often

might wear them down

- I love you

When I think of ideas, what comes to mind is the cemetery, by far the place with the highest concentration of unspoken ideas. Out of concern that our genius idea might suffer damage «in ordinary use», we preserve it for our afterlife by taking it with us all the way into the grave and beyond.

«Living the dream» isn’t a serious statement, is it? We don’t do it. It would kill the dream and «real life» sucks us in all the way anyway. Hence, the dreams stay on the shelf or in the box, as my grandfather would say.

So be cautious not to overuse your words and beware of your ideas and dreams «rusting and malfunctioning on the ground».

It might actually save you from long lasting damage.