“Objects are not just mundane things; they are companions and witnesses to our everyday lives. If we are still, we can hear the whispers of lives lived and moments passed.

What stories do they tell, if I were to listen today?

I see a rustled paper bag. I think of the one I held on my walk home yesterday. The one I quickly discarded without a mere thought and turned my undivided attention to what was inside. I had carefully selected and exchanged a unit of my time for something to look at, to use, to eat, to become a part of me. I wonder if it shared my excitement, when it fulfilled its purpose of conveniently and gently holding my treasure for a short period of time. Then I glance through the transparency of a glass bottle. I feel the warmth of the sun and the touch of coldness to my lips. My mouth waters and I think about what would quench my sudden thirst.

I remember the times that I put a banana peel down on the table, too lazy to stand up and walk over to the garbage immediately. I think about the bananas my father eats without ever missing a day. Then I recall my mother standing over the kitchen sink every night and that no matter how tired she was, she would never let dirty dishes sit overnight. Although we had a dishwasher, we only ever used it for storing large pots and plastic containers. I rarely ever cleaned the dishes because that’s how my parents showed their love, allowing me to focus on school and extracurriculars rather than the tedium of household chores. I feel comfort thinking about the daily routines of my childhood.

I turn and see a bathroom at the end of the hall. What a familiar sight that has never really registered in my mind. Why do I take this for granted every day? Wasn’t I taught to be grateful about the simple luxuries in life? I peer into the toilet bowl and recall the repeated times that I regret the decisions I made hours ago. I also think about the fish we buried in the backyard.

Now I hear the hum of the light bulb, a soft click, and then silence in the darkness. Except I can now hear the hum of the refrigerator, louder than ever before. I wonder about all the other thoughts that race through me each day, without my knowing. My mind has wandered on a far journey while standing here in quiet conversation with these objects.

What stories do they tell, if I were to listen tomorrow?

Objects are vessels of our memories, and they remind us that even the simplest things can hold a world of emotion, if only we take the time to be still.”

—Carol Kong