Part 3

生活中离不开的东西

6. Why do some grown-ups hate to throw out old things (such as clothes)?

答案:

Many adults struggle to discard old items, particularly clothing, for a variety of psychological and emotional reasons. Firstly, there's often a sense of sentimental attachment to these belongings; they may evoke cherished memories or represent significant life events, making it difficult to part with them. For instance, a dress worn at a memorable occasion may hold emotional value, encapsulating a moment in time that individuals wish to preserve.

Secondly, some individuals may perceive discarding items as a waste of resources. They might feel guilty about throwing away something that still has potential use, reflecting a mindset shaped by upbringing or values emphasizing frugality and sustainability. This perspective can lead to clutter accumulation, as the belief that "one day I might need it" prevails.

Additionally, the fear of regret plays a role; the thought of possibly needing an item in the future can hinder the decision to let go. This reluctance to declutter can be exacerbated by societal pressures to maintain a certain image or lifestyle, making it challenging to embrace minimalism.

Ultimately, the interplay of emotional ties, resourcefulness, and fear of regret explains why many adults find it hard to part with old belongings.


助记: sentimental attachment, cherished memories, waste of resources, frugality, sustainability, clutter accumulation, regret, societal pressures, minimalism


翻译:

许多成年人在丢弃旧物品,特别是衣物时,出于多种心理和情感原因而感到挣扎。首先,通常对这些物品存在一种情感依恋;它们可能唤起珍贵的记忆或代表重要的生活事件,使得很难与之分离。例如,曾在一个难忘的场合穿过的裙子可能具有情感价值,封存了一个人们希望保留的瞬间。

其次,一些人可能将丢弃物品视为资源浪费。他们可能对扔掉仍有潜在用途的东西感到内疚,这反映出一种由教育或强调节俭和可持续性塑造的心态。这种观点可能导致杂物的积累,因为“我总有一天可能会需要它”的信念占据主导地位。

此外,后悔的恐惧也起着作用;未来可能需要某个物品的想法可能会妨碍放手的决策。这种对清理的犹豫可能因社会压力而加剧,社会对维持某种形象或生活方式的期待使得拥抱极简主义变得困难。

最终,情感纽带、资源意识和对后悔的恐惧之间的相互作用解释了为什么许多成年人发现很难与旧物品分开。


笔记:

  1. sentimental attachment (/ˌsɛn.tɪˈmɛn.təl əˈtæʧ.mənt/) - emotional connection to items, 情感依恋
  2. cherished memories (/ˈtʃɛr.ɪʃt ˈmɛm.ər.iz/) - valued recollections, 珍贵的记忆
  3. waste of resources (/weɪst əv rɪˈsɔːr.sɪz/) - discarding usable items, 资源浪费
  4. frugality (/fruːˈɡæl.ɪ.ti/) - the quality of being economical, 节俭
  5. sustainability (/səˌsteɪ.nəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/) - the ability to be maintained, 可持续性
  6. clutter accumulation (/ˈklʌt.ər əˌkjuː.mjəˈleɪ.ʃən/) - the gathering of unnecessary items, 杂物积累
  7. regret (/rɪˈɡrɛt/) - a feeling of sadness or disappointment, 后悔
  8. societal pressures (/səˈsaɪ.ə.təl ˈprɛʃ.ərz/) - expectations from society, 社会压力
  9. minimalism (/ˈmɪn.ɪ.mə.lɪ.zəm/) - a lifestyle focusing on simplicity, 极简主义