People have things and they take pride in those things. Our stuff can often be a representation of our interests and personality. Or they can be useful tools. Nothing wrong with stuff to give us joy in life. But lately it seems stuff is more imprisoning many of us than letting our heart sore and helping us live our lives. Many in our modern culture are often conditioned to always want something new and shiny. We are constantly buying new phones, cars, clothes, TVs, computers, furniture, ect. We have to upgrade our technology or buy warranties in case our screen has a scratch in it. We are always under pressure to fix up our homes and yards or get new outfits to wear or have the latest gadgets. I have seen people be crestfallen at a 6 inch scratch on their car. According to an entire movie about happiness stuff doesn't equate to happiness though and many of the happiest people have very little.
How do animals react to their stuff. You only have to try to take away a dogs favorite toy to know that animals can become possessive of things. But they seem to just enjoy the essence of their things. I have seen a dog have a great time with a stitched up mangled stuffed animal. I have played with a dog with a dirty disgusting looking rope toy that was left outside for who knows how long. The dog didn't care what it looked like it was still fun for her to play with. I have played tug of war with my own dogs with a scrap of fabric that you would never guess was once part of a stuffed squirrel. The fabric stilled served the purpose of us having a good tug of war. I have seen a dog have the time of its life with less than a half of a rubber ball.
And it's not just dogs that love simple toys just for the essence of it being something to play with. Try crumpling up a piece of paper and throwing it for a cat. It was one of my cat's favorite toys when I was growing up. Chimpanzee's play with sticks as well as use various things for tools and they seem to make do with what they have to get the job done. This article tells of crocodiles playing with flowers, cichlids playing with thermometers, and octopuses playing with empty pill bottles.
These animals take joy in the simple things and they take objects that aren't food as what they are rather than elevating them beyond what use they can be to them. If it is a toy than they have fun with it even if it is simple or not in good condition. As long as they can have fun with it. The essence of a toy after all is just something to enjoy. Human children do this too. They can still play with dolls and action figures if they are missing limbs. They can use their imagination with none toy objects like pencils and erasers and have fun with them. Many children love a toy so much it gets damaged and looks pretty thread bear but it still brings joy to them so they don't care. As we grow up for some reason we seem to put more stock in what something looks like or how new it is rather than just enjoying what we have.
And if it is a useful tool animals use it until it is no longer useful to them. Chimpanzees our closest animal relative and fellow tool user doesn't seem to become obsessed with their tools they use them as long as they are useful and then move on. Perhaps this more lighthearted play and practical tool use that animals and human children seem to know can lighten adult human hearts and free us to take more joy in life.
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