Do you ever become obsessed with material things?

[Ally T]

I am currently waiting for my pear diamond to be re-set into its hopefully forever home. The jeweler is fabulous (& rather dishy ) but these things take time. I am missing my ring SO much that I am dreaming & fantasizing about it. I am a stay at home mum, so my brain is pretty inactive despite my body being run off its feet. I am so envious of friends with their big diamond engagement rings that I am even dreaming about THEIR rings with jealousy!

Do you ever find yourself obsessing about something that has no real affect on life & in the grand scheme are completely irrelevant? I am wasting so much of my energy thinking about my diamond, and all of your diamonds, and I know that God forbid that should something serious crop up, I will feel hideously bad for not spending more time with the important things, like doing jigsaws with my children instead of Googling ring settings!

 

[dk168]

I learnt an important lesson not to be too sentimental about material objects, after my late partner destroyed my collection of ornaments that I collected from the age of 14 during an argument.

None of them worth anything, however, each of them had a story to tell. I was so upset and angry I cut up all his shirt in return.

It made me really sad at the time having lost them, however, I don't miss them as I still have the memories.

Although I would always love to have bigger and better things, house, jewellery, car etc. etc., I am happy and content with what I have, as I have worked hard for most of them, except for the few pieces of jewellery my mum has given me.

I love to plan ahead in life, coming up with holiday plans (as far ahead as 2017), and jewellery projects. It is my way of being optimistic about the future, and it keeps me going.

However, I shall continue to play the lottery, as I can't win big money unless I play! And yes, I have thought about how I would spend my millions, and jewellery does feature somewhere.

DK

 

[missy]

Yes, I do. But sometimes I think when I do become obsessed with something unimportant it is because I am trying to distract myself from something that is not under my control at the moment or an issue that I am less than happy about. Not always though. Sometimes I just become obsessed with shiny pretty objects that I can wear on my ears, neck or hand just because they are so darn yummy lol and a little distraction from everyday life is welcome yanno?

But when I find it going a bit too far (for me-not extrapolating to anyone else) it's because I am unhappy about some other area in my life that I have little control over.

Alex, I cannot wait to see your beautiful new ring! I love pears and your new ring is going to be amazing.

 

[junebug17]

I can relate to your post Alex, I've been kind of wrapped up in thinking about diamonds too I'm not planning on purchasing any more pieces but I was obsessed with my reset and now I'm obsessed with my ring, and everyone else's on PS. I think for me it's an escape from anxiety about things going on in my life. Also, I'm a part-time caregiver for my elderly mother, so escaping into the pretty world of diamonds alleviates the boredom that is sometimes involved with that. I keep telling myself I have to try to find other ways to stimulate my mind and do something more constructive with my time but a part of me doesn't care lol. I guess I do need to address this, one of these days.

And with all of that said…I can't wait to see your reset!!!

 

[AprilBaby]

I love my bling and reading about stuff on here but I realize it's all "first world problems".

 

[kenny]

I'm sure nobody at a diamond forum becomes obsessed with material things.

 

[justginger]

Yes, I do. But sometimes I think when I do become obsessed with something unimportant it is because I am trying to distract myself from something that is not under my control at the moment or an issue that I am less than happy about. Not always though. Sometimes I just become obsessed with shiny pretty objects that I can wear on my ears, neck or hand just because they are so darn yummy lol and a little distraction from everyday life is welcome yanno?

But when I find it going a bit too far (for me-not extrapolating to anyone else) it's because I am unhappy about some other area in my life that I have little control over.

Alex, I cannot wait to see your beautiful new ring! I love pears and your new ring is going to be amazing.

THIS. The only times I get really carried away with 'wants' is when I've got other things going on I can't fix.

 

[luvsdmb]

I am obsessed. Do I even want a diamond, what type, what setting, what metal, what type of band?? My biggest obsession is the time line. I told my hubby I would take a break from diamonds, which means I won't buy anything but I am still looking. Looking for me makes it worse because then I want to do it now. I'm trying to be patient. He mentioned five years one night and I was in shock. Thankfully I think I have talked him into a diamond band.
I have at least limited my time to this site at night, or when my cute baby boy is napping. Which does seem to help, outta sight outta mind works, well for the most part.

 

[NTave]

I welcome the small distraction of diamonds in my life...I don't collect much as I don't have the means to do so yet, but its lovely to think about and I enjoy the small pieces I do own immensely.
I do however realize that too much of a thing is not healthy..for instance I was obsessed with clothing around the same time my marriage fell apart. It gave me something else to think about when I am usually laid back about style. It became something else I could focus on, instead of the fact that the man I married didn't give a lick about me or our children. That was an obsession, and it was not healthy. It did subside once I was actually separated, but it made me realize I was using something else to hide from glaring reality. Obsession over anything is not healthy..food, exercise, collecting couches..whatever.

 

[decodelighted]

I've been going bat sh*t crazy over some clothing/accessory items the past couple of weeks. To the extent that I could not sleep thinking about whether or not to buy a certain item I had on hold. So I can (shamefully?) relate.

Agree with the others that said it's a distraction. Really I'm frustrated about not having freelance work right now ... and my pup's recent health scare ... and a few other random Life Sitches. And I'm aware of the connection. Most times for me its a short phase but I did discuss it w/my husband. The amounts are far below BLING money so I don't think he's too worried about it. I'm not really worried about the $ as much as the *compulsion*. So I decided to Cold Turkey it for awhile.

And so far I've cooked five new recipes in a week and begun diet. NEW DISTRACTIONS. And so it goes ...

 

[Laila619]

No. Do I like to buy some stuff? Sure. But I live a very frugal, no-frills lifestyle and I am not into spending $$$ and having lots of stuff. I get stressed when I have too much.

 

[Ally T]

Very interesting & different answers, everyone. And now that its been raised, yes, I think I may fall into the camp of needing the distraction & focus. I am not stressed & thankfully life is going well for me, but my mind is bored to rat sh!t & needs to obsess

Hopefully when my ring is ready it'll be everything I have dreamed about & more, so I will find something new to think about. Like maybe a BIGGER pear one day

 

[rosetta]

I don't have the time to obsess! I'm thinking about a million things at once at work and at home and I never seem to get a rest. My ring has been in the safe for weeks.

I am currently supposed to obsessing over a new piece of rimowa luggage but I'll probably end up buying it the day before our cruise because I won't have time to even step in a shop for the next six weeks. Story of my life!

 

[Circe]

Consider me another vote in the affirmative, and for much the same reasons - it's easier to control something like this than to admit life-choice-scale angst.

There's an essay by J.R.R. Tolkien called "On Fairy Stories" that strikes me as being tangentially related: in it, he rails against this social disdain for escapism, pointing out that we wouldn't criticize a man in jail for dreaming of green fields, so why do we scold people in industrialized societies performing alienated labor for dreaming of magic (in a nutshell). It's a great essay, I'd recommend it highly. And in a lot of ways, I don't see immersing oneself in a hobby as being any worse than losing yourself in a story: it's actually probably got the potential to be useful (think of the number of members here who've gone on to get G.G.'s or to learn to make jewelry or whatnot). Just so long as it doesn't make you unhappy as opposed to more happy, I think you're good ....

 

[Indylady]

Hmn..

I think that this question is a matter of framing. Jewelry is my one main material interest. Do I feel obsessed? Nah. Its my creative outlet. In my day to day life, I don't have the option of being creative. I love thinking about colors, metals, designs, and love browsing PS. I enjoy getting to exercise the artistic part of me. Other than this, my life is comfortable but relatively basic.

 

[isaku5]

Yep, there were times

 

[iluvshinythings]

I'm not proud of my obsessions with things but I do have them from time to time.

When I first got engaged, I was obsessed with find the perfect ring. Then I was obsessed with find the right dress. Even before that I had a tendency to become obsessed with an item once in a while. I'm the worst when it's time to purchase a new car. I can't sleep, eat or focus until I have it all researched out and decided upon. Same thing with house hunting. I get hyper-focused. Jewelry is my favorite thing to obsess about though.

I agree that it's a distraction from other things in life. I justify it by thinking that as long as I do my job, don't spend money I don't have (car and mortgage being the exception) and still have relationships with people, I'm entitled to a little blatant retail therapy.

 

[OreoRosies86]

I mostly tend to get down on myself for not having as nice a budget as my wish list. I think that most of the fun in a new project, a new stone, or whatever your hobby of choice may be, is the planning and plotting and general struggle to make your dream a reality. Every time I have seen a dream (whether it is house hunting or buying a painting) realized, the satisfaction is quite short lived and then I want to move on to the next big thing. Perhaps that is not such a desireable personality trait

 

[chrono]

I love jewellery and gems, no question about it. I enjoy thinking about it, helping others learn more about it and sharing their joy, looking, browsing and etc. It is natural to be excited about an upcoming project or one that has already started. I don't lose sleep or the ability to focus over it though.

 

[Madam Bijoux]

All the time.
Madonna said it best: "We are living in a material world and I am a material girl."

 

[Polished]

Ooooh yes! I think "obsession" is a good word here as I mind when I find it has taken me over and not left enough time for other things I also enjoy such as reading, music, cooking.

 

[smitcompton]

Hi,

There is a new show on with hired shoppers for those of wealth. I do enjoy getting a look in their closets. I actually can't believe it.
These women are obsessed with clothes. When you have a lot money, I think you have to think of ways to spend it. This takes time and devotion to the cause. Even the most avid diamond lovers on here are no comparison to these women.(I think) For so many on here a diamonds are a large purchase. I think its prudent to be concerned over your purchases, and yes, sometimes not sleep over them.

I'm more like the description that Circee gives. I think a mind would be a waste if it couldn't dream . What a fabulous thing to have. So I will keep my small obsessions in my real life and have larger ones in my fantasies.


Annette

 

[distracts]

Yes, I do. But sometimes I think when I do become obsessed with something unimportant it is because I am trying to distract myself from something that is not under my control at the moment or an issue that I am less than happy about. Not always though. Sometimes I just become obsessed with shiny pretty objects that I can wear on my ears, neck or hand just because they are so darn yummy lol and a little distraction from everyday life is welcome yanno?

But when I find it going a bit too far (for me-not extrapolating to anyone else) it's because I am unhappy about some other area in my life that I have little control over.

This is exactly it for me. Most of the time, it's just a fun hobby and I buy things if they're on my list and at the right price (admittedly, I do have a loooooong list), and I spend more time looking at PS and helping people and learning, loving the knowledge and community and building my collection in a mostly planned way. But when I am stressed out, I obsess in an unhealthy way... but if it wasn't jewelry, it would be something else. Not even necessarily material things - I have certainly gotten lost in daydreams or writing novels before when I was stressed and neglected the rest of my life because I was using those as escape.

 

[partgypsy]

I used to have a big jewelry gem bug, but that has ebbed, maybe in part due to losing a couple of my favorite pieces, so learned the impermance of all that. Also, I desire either a) a slightly bigger house or b) renovating my house, which = major $$, so usually when I think of buying something expensive, I think, that could go towards that instead. So, there's always show me the bling to live vicariously.

I could get obsessed. I love Christmas and buying for people, and trying to get the exact right thing, even if it is a scented candle,pair of socks or face cream and searching and researching those!
Some people I know are hard to shop for/particular which makes me try even harder.

But overall, my lack of liquid cash flow keeps me well within bounds .