No Title Left To Use

in The Pub12 days ago (edited)

That is obviously a joke, as titles can be used as many times you like, but I thought I'd make a joke this time. We have a user on Hive, with similar username and always makes me smile when I see their comments as I think it's a genius move. Anyway, before I digress, let's get back to what I want to share with you today.

At first, I thought I'd name my post "Value", as that's what my post it is about, but value here is not just the dry definition of the word and some rewritten economic text, it has a way deeper meaning (for me).

The whole thing started when I saw an iPod on Vinted. Someone listed it for sale and when I saw it, my first reaction was to check how many are listed for sale and at what price and saw there were not a lot and the average price was acceptable for an obsolete product like this one.

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I have one too, this beauty you see on the photo. I got it in 2007 or 2008, can't remember exactly. I got it from someone I used to know, from Oxford. He got it as a bonus in a referral programme and as he could not appreciate it, he gifted it to me. It was quite shocking as back then these iPod Shuffles were in vogue, their price was quite high and this was sealed, unopened, so he could have sold it, but he was not able to value it. His loss, my luck I'd say. A big one.

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So what I did was, take out my Apple iPod Shuffle 2nd Generation 1GB player and test it to see if it's still working as it's been sitting in my drawer for God knows how long. The first signs were good as it was still charging, its original box was also there, in a perfect condition. I even managed to put together the description I needed for the listing, all was missing was a test to see if it still plays the music I have on it, before I push the post button and this is where everything changed.

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The detail I left out till now about this little beauty is, that although I hate pink and don't like the color, I loved it and when I say loved it, I mean really loved it. This little piece of 4cm x 2.5cm has been with me for years in good and really bad times. Most likely I was the last one to swap it with my phone, only because wearing a headset with a wire was really not what you would wanted to do anymore.

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The music I have on it is historic for me, but not for the reason you think. Not because those tunes have been top of any list for God knows how long, but because each tune reminds me of an event from those times.

If I want to be honest, this iPod helped me save my sanity and get through all the heavy shit life handed me when my mom got sick. Waiting for hours at the doctor, day by day, week by week, trying to process mentally what you have to, when you know there's no cure or solution, is not something I'd wish for anyone and only you know how to handle the situation.

Some break down mentally, or turn to alcohol or other substances. Breaking down mentally was not an option for me as my mom was relying on me heavily, with her life, literally, and she was in a much tougher situation than me. Alcohol and other substances are not my thing, so I found my boost in music, through this precious piece. It was with me all the time, without exception and can say it helped me to get high on music when I needed it.

Then there was a song that made me smile again at first, but brought back memories of how I listened to it for a whole day, before I had my head surgery. Not being the first such surgery, I knew the anesthetic would not last till the end and it's inevitable to not feel the pain, so I needed that to control it. Dealing with that kind of pain it's not easy, trust me, the surgeon was shocked that I stayed quiet and instead of screaming of pain, as so many do, we joked the whole time. He even asked how come I tolerate pain so well. I didn't tell him my secret.

I bet everyone thinks it's crazy to listen to one single song all day. Maybe it is, but if it helped me get through the pain, it's good for me. Better than any other chemical substance and I'm glad I was able to find a very organic way to deal with it, on my own. What others think? Who cares as I sure don't.

Back to the story of the day, best case scenario I can get $50 for it now, maybe a little more as it's 2nd generation and the ones listed are mostly sold now, but do I need that money now? No, I don't. Would it help me change my life? $50? Come on, let's be serious. So then why sell it?

There's a difference between value and price and so many times the two are miles apart from each other. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. Price means very little for me in this case, but the value is priceless. It would break my heart to give it to someone else, even for money as it's a piece of my painful past that I value so much.

So this beauty goes back to my drawer for now. I need to buy a headset that is not wireless, as the one I have is faulty and only the left earpiece is working, then I can listen to music on it again.

Money is not everything.

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Just dropping by to say I loved that you didn’t sell it… ;)

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How could I? It's a piece of my life 😎

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I’ve never had anything quite like that, but I understand what you mean. Sometimes warm memories are worth more than money.
I also have things I don’t use but don’t want to sell. For example, I have a car I haven’t driven in five years because I simply don’t have the time. I use my work vehicle for everything, while mine just sits in the parking lot, gathering dust and losing value 😄

I understand your attachment to the car too. I don't know if I could sell it. I value my things and even when I'm not using them anymore, it's hard to give them away. But unfortunately, some items are just devaluing. However, you could keep the car and your son could be a proud owner of an oldsmobil when he gets older 😆

This is probably how it will turn out! 🤣

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I don't like apple stuff, but they have the pro of hardly losing value over time, they hold it somehow

Mental breakdown is easy, depends on what life is ready to throw at you, I don't blame anyone to fall for something because we all would need help or company during these times, but nowadays everyone is left alone as soon as troubles pop up... I'm glad you made it with music, it's a sane medicine

This is the only apple item I had and just because it was gifted to me. Whenever I buy a phone, I'm looking for value and for me, paying a bunch of money (I may not have, allocated to buying a phone), mostly for the brand is not a solution. I can find better value in Android for example.

but nowadays everyone is left alone as soon as troubles pop up...

Tell me about it. My best friend vanished when she heard my mom is sick and came back after she passed, telling me what to do, how to fix my life. You know what I did?

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You know who your true friend is, when you get into trouble.

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I used to have one of the early full iPods, that thing was so cool. I kind of wish I still had it even though most phones blow it out of the water. It was just absolutely game changing at the time and I think that is part of what made it so cool. I had a shuffle too that I won somewhere, but I don't think I ever used it too much. Mine was like cerulean blue I think.

There was the next one, that had a display. That was soooo cool and I wanted one, but development is so fast you can't buy each edition, unless you want to waste money by always having the newest shiny thing, which I don't.

There are two things I regret not having. One is that iPod with a display and the other is a specific phone, but can't remember the brand.

I had a third generation iPod. It was so cool at the time.

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