Lifestyle

50 interesting photos that show how time changes things

Bored Panda · Jan 27, 2026 16:30 · 7 min read

50 Interesting Photos That Show How Time Changes Things

We’ve gathered some cool and curious examples of how time affects everyday items.

Some folks see time from an existential perspective, a ceaseless force that can not be escaped and which will eventually consume all. But, setting that aside, time also has all sorts of interesting effects on the world around us.

We’ve gathered some cool and curious examples of how time affects everyday items. We got in touch with Carolyn Becker, artist, thrifter, and creative to learn more about the value of old things in a practical way. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites, and share your thoughts below.

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#1 My Coworker Is Still Using The Same Post-It Note For 2 Years To Check His Pens

#2 6 Lines On My Fingernails, One For Each Chemo Session I Had Recently

#3 A Chunk Of My Red Hair From When I Was 16 Compared To My Faded With Time Hair Now That I'm 27

Red hair tends to lose its redness over time, it's very common.

Bored Panda got in touch with Carolyn Becker, artist, thrifter, and creative from Findingyourgood.org to learn more about thrifting, old items, and how it affects the world around us. Naturally, we wanted to know how she got into thrifting in the first place.

“I sometimes joke that I was born at a nonprofit Goodwill store! I’ve been thrifting my whole life, ever since I was a kid in the ‘90s. My parents would take my brother and me thrifting for necessities and clothing for school. For us, it was the economical thing to do and a no-brainer way to save money for other life priorities.”

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#4 My 2-Decades-Old Water Bottle Gave Out Last Week, And Nalgene Just Sent The Replacement

I don’t know how many metric tons of water I consumed out of this, how many miles it traveled with me, or the number of times it tumbled down a rocky trail, but the answer to all of them is a lot. It finally met its demise last week when it fell out of my stationary car. I reached out to Nalgene, and their replacement just arrived. I don’t have much customer loyalty, but Nalgene is pretty great.

#5 Steps Leading Up To The Old Wall Around Dinkelsbühl, Germany

#6 Blanket With 25 Years Of Love That’s Being Put Away For Safe Keeping vs. An Unused Version My Spouse Surprised Me With

“I sometimes think back, with regret, about all the vintage I saw and didn’t think of buying as a teen. The memory of the acid-washed jeans that I passed on live rent-free in my brain. The only Abercrombie I ever wore came straight from a Goodwill store.” While this might seem like looking for a needle in a haystack, it’s more possible than you might think.

#7 This Rug In The Old City Center Of Cluj-Napoca

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#8 My New Prosthetic Foot Shell Versus The One I Walked On For Two Years

#9 My Mom's Dog Can Open The Door, And This Is Where Her Paw Has Worn Down The Wall Over The Years

Naturally, given the “risks” involved, we were curious to hear what exactly she liked about thrifting so much. “Personally, I love thrifting for so many reasons….I could write a whole book. As a petite woman, it’s very difficult to find clothing in my style that fits me just right. Thrifting has opened up the opportunity for me to find the uniquely sized pieces that fit just right (thank you, small Grandmas, with stellar retro wardrobes) and/or experiment without breaking the bank. Since thrift finds also cost close to nothing, I can use the money saved to alter/tailor pieces that I can truly enjoy forever.”

#10 27 Years Of Daily Cuddling Including Many Attempts To Repair Him

#11 This Spoon Has Been In My Family For About 70 Years, And Still Going Strong

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#12 Every Pencil I've Used Up In The Last 3 Semesters

“Thrifting is also, for me, self-care, a way to be in a flow state, looking, perusing, and vibing. The thrift community is diverse and enriching. I learn so much from the people I thrift with and simply see at Goodwill. Thrifting is for everyone, and I am always surprised and delighted by the people I meet,” she shared with Bored Panda. In general, there are a lot of interesting examples out there of the strange things people collect.

#13 My Daughter’s Favorite Stuffed Animal “Scratch” vs. The New Backup Replacement

#14 The Difference Between A Brand New Sketchbook And A Full One (The Same Exact Sketchbook)

#15 Floor In Front Of The Counter At The Pharmacy I Go To

“I have new creative ideas when thrifting, inspired by finds that come from the past and present. Learning: I love learning about the history of my community, human behavior, fashion music….everything via thrifting.” While this might seem counterintuitive, there is a whole list of interesting ideas from the past, just waiting to be rediscovered.

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#16 This Stand At A Restaurant Has A New Candle Placed One After The Other

#17 Strasbourg Cathedral

#18 Brand New Pikachu Replacing Its 15-Year-Old Sun-Bleached Cousin

“Giving back to others feeds my soul and I love knowing that when I use my dollar to support nonprofits like Goodwill, I am truly helping others in need and important missions. Our purchases have power and shape the world we want to live in! Thrifting benefits the environment in so many ways we don’t realize or think about.”

#19 2-Year Difference

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#20 Step At Westminster Abbey

#21 Brand New Work Boots And The 6-Year-Old Boots They’re Replacing

“Thrifting reduces the transport needed in fast fashion, shipping, and trucking items from factories to store floors. It keeps items out of local landfills. Reuse means not using land or the planet’s vital resources to make new pieces that won’t last. More thrifting = less plastic and packaging used on new fast-fashion pieces The list is endless!”

#22 The Hoodie I Am Wearing When Working From Home, Window Is On The Left Of The Desk

#23 Before And After Water Filters From The Water System At My Work. 7 Days Of Use

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#24 18-Year-Old Tyvek (Never-Tear Paper) Wallet Next To A Brand New One

Last, but not least, we were curious to hear if she had any best finds in her long and illustrious experience. “So many! I once found a whole lot of vintage designer pieces on a Goodwill rack. Think Chanel blazer, quilted Yves Saint Laurent….there must have been 20 pieces…many I still have ‘til this day. As of recent, I found a vintage leather ‘70s poncho for less than $15 at Goodwill in Gaithersburg, MD. It’s intricately designed and could be in a museum!” You can find more of Carolyn Becker’s work on Instagram or her website.