Do you have any old stained clothes you keep around because it is your favourite shirt, it's comfortable, or because you're just too lazy to throw it out?

I keep alot of old stained stuff that I've acquired throughout the years. One for example is the leather bracelet i've had since. . forever. I was looking at it today and noticed paint droplets all over it. It was from when we were remodeling my first house and i had to help paint but didn't take it off. Upon remembering this i can't help but try to remember when this was. . it was either in middleschool or early highschool. So many years has it been since its been stained. I turned the bracelet over and see an old faded logo, hot topic. It was when hottopic was first introduced for the alternative lifestyle crowd. . basically rockers and bondage folks. It was back when they sold alot of bondage gear. . way back before they started marketing to emo's in highschool. Actually. . i was in middleschool when i got it . . its been almost 10 years since i've had it. . I got it at universal studios city walk. . back when we discovered it. It makes me so nostalgic just looking at my bracelet, seeing the scuff marks, the leather begin to tear, the logo fade from existance, makes me remember good times in my life.

I also have a brown tomy hilfiger velvet button up shirt that serves as my sweater. As i look it over i find so many tears in the sleeves. The shirt itself is so old and very faded however i wear it on cool days whenever i can. Why? I don't know. . Upon looking back i remember it being given to me . . early in highschool by my dad. My mother had gotten it for him for his birthday but he never wore it. I found it and wore it from then on. The holes in the sleeves. . i can remember poking my thumbs through the slots for the buttons. . only to stretch them out. . tearing them. . and chewing on the sleeves whenever i'm nervous. I was trying to stop my self destructive habit of chewing on my finger when i'm nervous, stressed, or trying to keep my mind focused. . i don't realize i'm doing it until my finger bleeds or until my tooth hits bone. I chewed on the sleeve to try to get myself to stop chewing on my finger (pinky one on the left hand). It failed. I also remember my mother asking where i acquired the shirt. When i answered my dad gave it to me. . she grew angry since well he didn't appreciate the gift. . nor alot of things she bought him over the years. It could be one of the reasons they are divorcing now. . i saw a lot of warning signs. . years ago. . saw alot when i wasn't supposed to. All this. . remembered through a simple shirt.

My goodtimes from a bracelet. .
My horrible times. . through a shirt...


So next time you stain your shirt or tear your sweater. . keep it. . wear it. . its a badge of where you've been and the journey that you've taken.