Getting over losing a prized posession

Post date: 2018-12-07 06:11:12

I lost something of great sentimental value to me, and I'm quite sure I'm never going to be able to find it. How do I train my brain to understand that's it's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things?

A few weeks back, I lost my most prized possession. What it is probably isn't relevant to the question, but if you're curious: A David Bowie concert ticket from when I saw him live. I had the concert poster framed with a really crappy plastic frame, the bottom part of which fell off and caused the ticket I'd placed inside to slip out. My boyfriend and I planned to reframe the poster, and in the meantime, we placed the ticket in a "safe spot that we'd be sure to remember."

You can guess how that went: Fast-forward a week or two later, and sure enough, neither of us have a clue as to where that safe spot actually was. We both agree that it was probably my wallet, but it's not there now. We've torn apart our apartment inside and out, but we haven't had any luck. My mother lost a folder containing some of my old Kindergarten school works around the same time, and everything I told her to console her didn't mitigate the distress that losing it caused. I understand why a bit better now. Losing that ticket is bothering me more than what I feel is reasonable, and I can't seem to shut it off.

To get to my question: Let's assume it's lost to the ages. What coping mechanisms could you recommend for me to get over it? If you've lost a physical object that had great value to you, what perspective helped you realize that it's not that big a deal, or at least put a less-negative spin on it? Existential "the world has so much real suffering within it" type thinking hasn't been a very effective salve; it just makes me feel selfish for worrying over it (which, to be fair, is probably valid). I would love to know if the hive mind has has had any better luck navigating something this silly before.

Please click Here to read the full story.