Use It ‘Til You Can’t: Finding Meaning in the Things We Keep
Today I filled out an online pledge to “use things until I can’t” for one year. It was a super easy pledge for me to make, because that’s pretty much what I do already. The implication was that you should use things for as long as you can before buying a new one, because you maximize the use out of something that used resources and probably polluted to be made, therefore it’s more sustainable to use things for a long time. Therefore, it’s the “sustainable” thing to do.
But like most actions that are “sustainable”, I find the reason I end up doing them is less because they’re sustainable, and more because they add meaning and value to my life.
I find that when you own things that you only use for a little while and then throw them away, it takes away all the potential meaningfulness that you can derive from your own things. I grew up seeing the things you own as representations of who you are. Think Indiana Jone’s fedora, Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber, or Jack Sparrow’s rings. They all help define the character and say something about who they are. Indiana Jones doesn’t throw away his fedora and buy a new one when it gets dirty! It’s iconic of who he is!
I love finding meaning in the things I own and letting them speak for who I am as well, so I thought I’d share some examples.
My Backpack
I have a history of well-loved backpacks. My first favorite backpack was one I bought in Korea when I lived there and it accompanied me throughout my travels in Asia and more: Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand…And probably more that I’m not remembering right now. That backpack is full of memories and reminds me of my 20’s – adventure, exploration, discovery, and high highs and low lows. I used it for 10+ years and still have it to this day…The zipper wore out and broke, so I haven’t been able to use it as much, though I still often take it with me when I travel. Someday I’ll get the zipper repaired…
The backpack I own now was given to me by my wife as a birthday present years before we were married. It’s also been to Thailand, China, Japan, various states in the US, and of course is here with me now in Hawaii and I continue to use it to this day. It’s functional, reliable, and I love the way it looks and feels.
My Favorite Pen
My favorite pen is a Zebra Sarasa 2+S that I received the first year I moved to Korea (2013) from my Korean language teacher. She gave it to me for being the first person ever in a class to 100% her entire class, from attendance to final exam. Since then, I (no exaggeration) used it to learn Korean and Japanese. Every bit of studying I did in learning both of those languages happened with that pen, not to mention countless journals, schedules, to-do lists, notes to myself, and pretty much anything meaningful that I wrote since 2013.
Recently, the pen has started to wear out. The ink selector sliders are starting to stick and the rubber grip is falling apart, so I’ve been considering replacing the pen, but I haven’t decided on the proper way to keep it memorialized somewhere. 12 years is a long time to use one pen!
My Clothes
I’m not going to lie, with the exception of underwear, I use clothes for a LONG time. I still own and wear T-shirts from shortly after my college days. My clothes tend to go through a “’daily wear’ to ‘sleep wear’ to garbage” cycle, usually meaning that most of the clothes I own, I’ve had for a very long time. It’s not unusual to find T-shirts that are 8-10 years old in my closet. I’ve never understood the “buy it at Uniqlo, wear it twice, then throw it out” mindset that many have. If you’ve ever seen any photos of me, there’s a good chance you saw one of my favorite fedoras, which I absolutely love (not to mention they protect my poor head from the Hawaiian sun) and literally wear till there are holes in them.
That said, this year, I’ve made it one of my goals to begin to refresh my wardrobe only with sustainably sourced clothes. Yes, that means paying more for clothes, but it also means ensuring that everyone in the clothes-making chain have been paid fairly, and that the materials are as nature-friendly as they can be. My new philosophy around clothes is not just what’s cheapest, it’s that I make deliberate, intentional choices and choose clothes that I really like, then wear them for a long time.
Love your things!
This pledge feels less like a challenge and more like an affirmation of how I already live. For me, using things until I can’t isn’t about deprivation or frugality—it’s about honoring the story behind the stuff I surround myself with. Everything I’ve kept, fixed, or worn thin has played a small role in shaping who I’ve become. These aren’t just objects—they’re extensions of my experiences, my values, and my identity.
So yes, maybe it’s “sustainable” to hold on to things. But more than that, it’s grounding. It connects me to my past, reminds me of where I’ve been, and helps me stay intentional about where I’m going. If we all treated our stuff with just a little more reverence and curiosity—saw the beauty in the wear and tear, and the memories embedded in the fabric—I think we’d not only waste less, but feel more connected to the lives we’re living.
Do you guys love your things? What do you own that makes them truly “yours”? Comment them down below! I’d love to hear!
Thanks for reading!
