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Thinking about the unstoppable flow of time and how it changes everything in its path can be unsettling. People have no choice but to grow old, and non-living things get worn down just the same. However, there’s a lot of beauty in being able to stand the test of time and having many stories to tell afterward. 

To remind us what time is capable of, Bored Panda compiled a list of things that got graciously worn down over the years. Scroll down to find them, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that got the best transformation.

While you’re at it, make sure to check out a conversation with environmental educator and blogger at Zero Waste Cutie, Elizabeth Teo, who kindly agreed to share a few tips on how we can make our belongings last longer.

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    #2

    Kannesteinen - Special Rock Formation Formed By The Sea

    Eroded rock formation by the sea, showing the effects of time on natural structures.

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    #3

    My Teddybear I Had For Over 30 Years And One As Good As New

    Two teddy bears side by side; one worn-down by time, the other new and plush.

    I had this bear my whole life, he was my best friend for a very long time. He got loved and very abused. I searched for one good as new to give it to my child one day!

    Allcappa Report

    Environmental educator and blogger at Zero Waste Cutie, Elizabeth Teo, tells us that she started her journey toward a more sustainable way of living after she realized how much waste she was producing and how little was being recycled.

    #5

    Stairs Worn Down By A Million Footsteps Over A Thousand Years At Sperlinga Castle, Sicily

    Worn-down stone steps carved into rock, illustrating the effects of time and erosion.

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    “It was overwhelming to think about the impact, not just on the planet but on future generations. The more I learned about environmental issues, the more I realized how small changes in my daily habits could make a huge difference. So, I decided to shift toward a more sustainable lifestyle, one step at a time—focusing on reducing waste, reusing items, and making conscious choices about what I buy and how I consume.”

    #7

    Before And After Powerwashing. New York Used To Be A Much Dirtier City Back When The Northeast Ran On Coal Plants

    Workers in yellow suits cleaning a worn-down building facade, illustrating effects of time.

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    #8

    My Mother’s Clipboard From Doing The Newspapers Crossword Puzzles For 30 Years

    Worn-down clipboard showing effects of time, with faded surface and visible wear, illustrating how time works.

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    #9

    This Church In Detroit, Mi Hasn't Been Cleaned Since It Was Built 134 Years Ago. I Always Thought The Stone Was Black

    A worn-down brick church being repaired with a blue lift under a clear sky.

    DetroitStalker Report

    With a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto, Elizabeth blends her academic knowledge and professional experience in environmental nonprofits to raise awareness and offer practical solutions to environmental challenges people often face, like fast fashion, waste management, and climate change, focusing on various social implications.

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    #10

    Good Boi Loves The Wind

    A dog hanging out of a car window has worn down the red paint around it, illustrating how time works.

    The amount of time this dog has leaned out their window...

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    #11

    This Is A Real Knife That Is Used By The Fish Cutter At My Current Job. He's Been Using It For 35 Years

    Worn-down knife with a yellowed handle, illustrating the effects of time.

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    A great way we can reduce waste and be more environmentally friendly is to take care of our belongings and fix them when they get worn down instead of retiring them to a landfill. Elizabeth suggests we can start doing that by shifting our mindset. “Instead of seeing items as disposable, we can treat them as investments,” she said.

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    #13

    Was Told To Post This Here. The Local Place I Play Ping Pong At. They Haven’t Changed The Tables In 20 Yrs

    Worn-down ping pong table with faded blue surface illustrating the effects of time.

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    #14

    The Floor Has Worn Out Where People Have Been Standing At My Local Shop

    Worn-down floor spot in a convenience store shows how time affects surfaces.

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    #15

    Years Of Water-Flow From This Drainage Pipe Has Worn This Bit Of Sidewalk Down To The Rocky Base

    Worn-down concrete path showing erosion and exposed gravel, illustrating how time works on surfaces.

    reddit.com Report

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's not the rocky base, it's just the natural aggregate you find in concrete. You can actually roughly date concrete by the type of aggregate used. Older concrete tended to have larger aggregate stones. So concrete from the 60's and 70's had stones an inch or two in diameter primarily, while concrete from earlier had the same large stones, but also contained 'cinder'. Basically burned coal taken from railroads. In the 80's and 90's, aggregate sizes started getting smaller, with pea gravel being the typical size. This was due to costs, as the larger stones cost more to source. From the 00's to now, it's more a somewhat even mix of large and small stones, though you're also seeing plastics being added to the concrete.

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    “Regular maintenance is key,” Elizabeth noted, “whether it's cleaning things properly, repairing them when needed, or storing them in ways that prevent wear and tear. For example, wash clothes in cold water, patch up small holes in clothing before they get worse, and regularly oil wooden furniture to keep it from drying out. When you love and care for your belongings, they last much longer and often work better!”

    #16

    This Light Post Is Outside Of A Popular Music Club In New Orleans. After 40 Years Of Having Band Flyers Stapled To It, There's No More Room

    Worn-down utility pole covered in old, rusted nails, illustrating the passage of time.

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    #17

    The Bells Hanging On The Back Door Of My Parents House

    Worn-down door with paint chipped off, displaying signs of aging over time, with hanging bells on a rope.

    These bells have been hanging on this door since 2011 and their dogs ring them to go outside.

    SuperNotit Report

    #18

    The Railing On This Dock Has Groves Worn Into It From Years Of People Pulling Up Crab Traps

    Worn-down wooden railing showing effects of time over water.

    -McLaren-F1- Report

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    Leigh
    Community Member
    12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was a kid, my parents would take me crabbing in Newport. It's the best place to catch dugness crab.

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    When it comes to fixing, mending, reusing, or repurposing things that might’ve been worn over time, Elizabeth advises to embrace your inner DIYer. “There are so many simple fixes that can breathe new life into worn items. If clothes are getting frayed or torn, learn to sew (take a class or ask a friend—my brother is so skilled at this!). Patching up holes or adding fabric patches can make them look unique and stylish. Old jars can become planters, and fabric scraps can be transformed into quilts, bags, or even reusable gift wrap.”

    #20

    Water Spirit Tummy Rubs

    Hand touching a worn-down statue with a shiny belly, illustrating how time affects objects.

    Takayama Japan, not sure who this water spirit is but he seems to get a lot of tummy rubs.

    Marchus80 Report

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    “For things like furniture, a fresh coat of paint or new hardware can make them look brand new,” she added. “The key is to get creative and see the potential in what others might discard. A little effort can turn something old into something functional and beautiful again!”

    #22

    A Melting Sign In Mid Wales

    Rusty, worn-down metal sign shaped by time, surrounded by trees and foliage.

    I don't even know what's happened here, but it looked gross, I love it.

    Countbook Report

    #23

    500 Years Of Walking Up The Marble Stairs Of The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

    Worn-down stone steps revealing erosion over time, illustrating the effects of prolonged use and natural wear.

    choderama Report

    #24

    My Hair Stylist Only Uses One Chair

    Worn-down floor showing a ring pattern around a salon chair, illustrating the passage of time.

    hyunibee Report

    For more ideas that can help us live more sustainably, make sure to check out our previous article on small ways we can help our environment or this piece on zero waste tips and tricks that might inspire you to produce less waste.

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    #27

    A Cinderblock That Washed Up On The Beach After A Bit Of Time Tumbling Around In The Ocean Currents

    Worn-down concrete block in the sand, illustrating the effects of time.

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    #28

    The Door Of Forbidden Planet In NYC

    Worn-down Batman logo door handle inside a comic book store, illustrating time's impact on objects.

    Local-Objective9511 Report

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    Wood Carver
    Community Member
    21 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Off topic I know, and also makes me look like a genuinely unhinged person but... This is one of my petty pet peeves: why do stores with two doors insist on keeping one locked? Real question because it has to have an answer. The number of times a week I grab a door handle and find it locked..... Why is this such a common thing?

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    #29

    This Shortcut Symbolizes Human Laziness (Yes, I Use It)

    Worn-down path in grass showing the passage of time in an urban setting with buildings and pedestrian signs.

    Aukrust Report

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    Simeon Nevel
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is called a "desire path" When smart people are in charge of the landscaping, they will wait for them to form and then pave them.

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    #30

    The One And Only Basketball That Lives At The Local Park And Somehow Still Bounces

    Worn-down basketball showing the effects of time and use on a textured outdoor surface.

    sangallium Report

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    #31

    Tiles In A Restaurant Worn Down After 83 Years Of Use

    Worn-down tiles with visible wear patterns illustrating the passage of time.

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    Multa Nocte
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We have wear and tear on the steps of our local chateau/castle, but it was built in the 1100s, so it's not unexpected,

    #32

    Plastic Turf Underneath Swings

    Worn-down swings with chains and frayed seats illustrate the passage of time in a park by the water.

    Why are we using plastic turf? It heats up to really high temperatures in the sun (especially dark colours like BLACK), it gives horrendous carpet burns, and it can’t be repaired. What happened to wood chips?

    lldaffodill Report

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Plastic turf came into favor in the late 90's, early 00's. It was seen as a cheaper, safer alternative to wood chips, as if a child fell on it, there was less chance of the child being impaled by something hidden in the wood chips, like broken glass. With the plastic turf, they'd just need to sweep it up. Also, it CAN be repaired pretty easily. The turf is actually put down in strips. That second photo shows where it's been peeled up to make a repair. Whatever city this is, happens to just be lazy about doing it.

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    #33

    Stone On This Italian Castle Being Completely Worn Down By 700 Years Of Rainfall Dripping Off The Roof Onto The Exact Same Spot

    Worn-down stone surface illustrating the effects of time, with visible indentations and weathering.

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    #34

    Pretty Close To A Normal Distribution In Gym Machine

    Worn-down weight stack with visible rust, illustrating effects of time.

    it shows the frequency that each weight is used!

    iLikeWeringHighSocks Report

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    #36

    Generations Of Deer Rubbing Their Antlers On The Only “Tree” For Miles

    A twisted, worn-down wooden post in a grassy field illustrating the effects of time.

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    #39

    The More This Seat Is Worn Down The More It Reveals The Old Design

    Worn-down blue train seats with visible fabric deterioration showing the effects of time.

    GhostWokiee Report

    #40

    2034 Midori Hibino

    Worn-down book alongside new one, illustrating how time affects objects.

    Every thought, every time I exercised, every major event. Love this. GPT another for2025

    Just-Equipment-2337 Report

    #41

    Work Jeans

    Worn denim jeans with faded areas near the pocket, illustrating how time affects fabric.

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    Blue Bunny of Happiness
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can tell OP wears man’s jeans, a woman’s wouldn’t have a pocket you can fit a phone in. We need more pockets!

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    #42

    Pool Stick

    Billiard cue with worn-down tip on a green table, illustrating the effects of time.

    Clearly this pool stick has been used a little too long

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    Ace
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cue. It's called a cue. And this is not through over-use, but simply a failure to replace the felt tip when it's worn out.

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    #45

    After 10yrs, Time For An Update

    Two worn-down Iron Man keychains showing signs of wear over time.

    Had this on my keychain for a long time. The old one lost its last leg today, so it's time to replace it. The new guy has been waiting in the drawer for years now.
    It's interesting (at least to me) to see how not only the printing, but the material has worn off over time, for example on the helmet.

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    Bec
    Community Member
    12 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I fidget with mine so they lose their hands, legs, and face pretty quickly

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    #47

    Ty Penguin 9 Years Apart

    Two plush penguin keychains show signs of wear, illustrating the passage of time.

    Was gifted the penguin on the left 9 years ago by my girlfriend, it’s been on my keys every day sense, just got the one on the right for my birthday. His name is waddles

    one2tree1 Report

    #49

    Parking Spots At A Post Office Built In 1934

    Worn-down parking area with faded "Post Office Customer" paint, illustrating the passage of time.

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    ƒιѕн
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That pavement still looks good for being 91 years old... Don't make em like they used to.

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    #50

    I’ve Been Using The Same Home-Made Hammer For 20 Years. Here’s How It Looks Like Today

    A worn-down hammer with a textured metal handle, illustrating the effects of time and use, lying on a scratched workbench.

    shadowdsfire Report

    Note: this post originally had 111 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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