Reddit Users Share Fascinating Photos That Perfectly Illustrate The Powerful Effects Of Time
It’s natural to complain about how quickly time flies but the reason we often fail to notice it going by is that we don’t notice what it’s doing as every second ticks forward. Even when it feels like nothing is happening, everything is slowly changing.
However, once enough of that change takes place, we can see the results of time’s subtle, constant work. Each raindrop or repetitive motion is insignificant on its own but the photos like these show how much of an impact these little microscopic changes can really have over time.
It Was Time For A Replacement
Although the new headlight in this photo looks cracked, that’s likely just the plastic it was wrapped in. Instead, the real marker of the headlight’s age is the layer of film clouding the one on the right.
It’s unclear exactly how long the old headlight was on the car but the more practical answer was that this switch-up occurred after 160,000 miles. Considering that some entire cars struggle to last that long, it seemed about the right time.
In Most Cases, Time Has A Little Help
Given enough time, this cat toy probably would have taken on a similar dingy color if nobody had ever played with it. However, it also probably would have had a lot more feathers than it now does.
Indeed, time can be quietly awe-inspiring in the power of its subtle effects. That said, if a cat spends each day scratching, biting, and roughhousing with a toy, time won’t have to work very hard to add wear and tear to it.
Eventually, The World Shows Everyone Its Little Patterns
So many of the things we encounter every day have their own little stories. It’s just that when we see them every day, we either already know these stories or find it that much harder to be curious about them.
This is the latch of a horse arena and through its grooves, we can see that the place is busy enough to send this latch scraping against its gate as it dangles each time one of the horses is let out. Considering how sharp that groove is, this place must be very busy.
Bullets Aren’t Hitting Here But Guns Shoot More Than That
Seeing how much a rifle range can be affected over time doesn’t require as dangerous or time-consuming an endeavor as going downrange and counting all the bullet holes in the walls. Instead, the evidence is right next to the shooter.
First of all, that black spot on the metal panelling is a collection of all the powder residue that has stained that metal over the years. However, the subtler detail is the wearing of the white wall above that panelling, as that’s where all the shell casings have knocked against after the guns ejected them.
When A Place Has A Specific Use, It Had Specific Hazards
Not only can we see obvious wear on this chair but its consistency with the pool cue next to it suggests that there have been over a 1,000 times when a cue rested against this specific part of the chair.
Considering that this was taken in a bar dedicated to billiards — specifically, a British variant called Snooker — that is precisely how the long-term damage on the chair came to exist. People behavior patterns tend to get a bit predictable after a while.
It Only Took A Year for The Difference To Take Place
After overseeing an aviation tech’s work for a year on the job, Reddit user trancethan arranged to get them a new hat. Indeed, that offers some subtle insight into what life is like for an aviation tech.
Although the planes they work on may look sleek, that doesn’t make them any less dirty when it’s time to work on them. Otherwise, this hat wouldn’t look like its wearer spent that year walking through a desert.
Improper Use Is Usually Only Obvious When It’s Too Late
This baggage trolley at London Heathrow Airport has such consist damage across its legs that it looks like they’re embedded in the floor. However, what actually happened is that enough employees used this in a way that puts strain on those legs that the inevitable happened to all of them.
To prevent this, users are supposed to bring the trolley to a proper and complete stop when it’s loaded rather than letting the friction of these legs stop it. As a result, years of scraping have taken their toll.
It’s No Surprise That This Took A Lifetime To Happen
As Reddit user Infamous-Cry3874 explained, this knife and sharpening stone belonged to their grandfather and this is what they looked like after a lifetime of use. Indeed, that description makes a lot of sense when looking at them.
However, it’s actually pretty amazing to consider that this happened over a lifetime, when thought about from a different perspective. After all, one would think that this razor-thin and severely eroded knife blade would have finally snapped years ago.
They Did Well To Make The Shoes Last This Long
If it weren’t for the clear in-sole damage of the old shoes, it would seem like these pairs were made with different styles in mind. However, they once would have looked exactly the same, as age has darkened the leather of the old pair.
As for how long that took to happen, the old shoes had been in the uploader’s possession since 2008 and the new pair was purchased soon after 2025 began. They’ve certainly taken good care of them for the shoes to last that well after 17 years.
Something Is Always Needing Maintenance On A Bike
Since bicycles are made of a bunch of interconnected pieces, it can grind the whole operation to a halt when of those pieces can’t be used anymore. Oftentimes, that inevitable fate is sped along by the elements.
As Reddit user ProperPiper explained, they had kept their cycling cleats alive for as long as they could. However, Chicago’s harsh winters finally claimed them and a replacement was needed.
Sooner Or Later, They’ll All Look Like This
When a person spends most days of the week in a chair, it’s likely to show it before even the person sitting in it realizes that. Of course, the damage and fraying shown on this chair also has a way of communicating how its user sits.
Indeed, one user was able to guess that the uploader often sits on their foot. Considering that it’s taken five years of nearly daily use before this looked like it does in this photo, the chair has had a lot of time to give that impression.
Not Even This Book’s Owner Can Say How Long This Took
Although this is a more subtle example than the others around it, Reddit user nevoarosacea noticed that the golden borders of their copy of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel Anna Karenina have started to lose their detail. Naturally, that wear matches the way they tend to hold it.
However, theirs are also not the first fingers to contribute to the wear on the book’s cover, subtle as it may be. That’s because the uploader got it used and likes to think it was treasured just as much by the previous owner.
They Were Surprised To Have Another For Comparison
Although it’s hard to tell from the severe wear on the old one, Reddit user Camera-Fisher_Man was happy to see that the college bookstore that sold this keychain still carried the exactly same model seven years later. Obviously, a lot had happened in that seven years.
However, the heavy damage from long-term wear wasn’t the result of any specific incident. As it turns out, they just have such a full keyring that it only took friction with the keys to make such a mess of the original keychain. Even for seven years, that’s a lot damage.
A Statement That’s Not As Silly As It Sounds
When describing their hat, the uploader mentioned that little details like its offset bill was the result of shaping from their right hand. They also mentioned that they’ve been wearing this hat for the last ten years.
Not only does that make it clear why this hat looks so worn and brown but it also explains why someone who’s clearly attentive to details was missing a big one. As they wrote, “Not sure what color it used to be.”
Even For Worn Shoes, This Is Some Fantastic Damage
Although shoes will always get frayed and start to fall apart after they’re worn often enough, these ones manage to exhibit damage in places that most wearers would have to go out of their way to achieve.
However, it seems that the life of a brass instrument maker is much more strenuous than anyone would have imagined. After all, it only took two years on the job for these shoes to look like this. It clearly involves a lot of bending at weird angles.
Some Worn Items Are The Sign Of A Larger Story
When Reddit user LonelyGirl724 bought this Tomy Bananya charm at a dollar store in 2017, it’s unlikely that she’d predict how much it would mean to her. However, its severely worn state after eight years with the uploader speaks eloquently of how important it is right now.
As she wrote, “He’s decorated my phone cases ever since, even accompanying me through the worst job experience I’ve ever had.” Only something that special sticks around long after its features have been worn away.
This Counter Should Make The Owner Feel Lucky
After a diner’s been open for long enough, it should be a worrying sight when the counter doesn’t look like this. It may look more presentable without the scuffs and blemishes but it’s a sign of a much less healthy business.
After all, those scuffs can only form after hundreds of customers have enjoyed this diner’s fine eats. The more scuffs, the more of them made a habit of coming back here. That’s the best sign that a diner is doing something right.
It Was Long Past Time For This To Happen
Although a key coming off the keyring like this would normally be a cause for a little concern, that was only the end result of a long period of erosion that couldn’t matter less in the uploader’s life.
After all, the lock that this key opens hasn’t even been in use for years by this point since they referred to it as their “old, retired” motorcycle. Nonetheless, the key has stayed on the ring for a good 12 years.
If A Pillow Looks Like This, It’s Time For A New One
Pillow cases keep so many people blissfully unaware of how gross their pillows likely look on the inside. After all, the sweat, drool, and dead skin that comes out of us every night has to go somewhere and this pillow catches so much of it over time.
That’s why the difference between the old pillow and the new one makes it look like the old one was taken from a house where people have been constantly smoking for the last decade.
This Cute Kitty Has A New Little Helper
Many cat owners can attest that getting a cat to use a scratch pad at all can be a serious challenge but if nothing else, this image’s uploader has all the evidence they need that their cat appreciates having it around.
Of course, now the question is whether it will like the new one or stubbornly continue to use the old one until it’s all but disintegrated. Cats can be a little unpredictable that way.
There Are Only Certain Jobs That Let You Wear This
Although it’s unclear how long this person has worn this Uniqlo shirt, he did say that even in its faded, hole-laden state, it’s still something he regularly wears to work. That may seem like something that would be the subject of a terse meeting in an office, but that’s not where he works.
Instead, he revealed that he’s a welder and works for a company that manufactures car parts. Since it can be very dirty work, it’s not exactly something that a shirt with a collar needs to be involved in.
The People Will Always Show Their Preference
Although not everyone signs up for a survey about their experiences or answers such things honestly, people will always find a way to make their preferences clear in life whether they want to or not. Indeed, that’s exactly what’s happening here.
Based on how much more worn and deteriorated the concrete in front of the urinal of the left is, it couldn’t be more obvious that it’s the popular one of the two. Apparently, that’s because it’s closer to the door.
Eventually, They All End Up Like That
Whether it’s the bristling of the pages or the act of filling them with writing, any well-used notebook is eventually going to look like it’s bursting at the seams. At least when it’s compared to a brand-new one, anyway.
And the old one in this picture is as far from brand-new as it gets because the uploader is a nanny and has recorded the kids’ feeding and nap times in that book for the last two years. Sounds like a thorough nanny.
A Major Change In A Room Usually Shows Some Signs
Even without understanding what this room is used for, it’s obvious that there used to be a large installation in the middle of it that’s no longer here. After something heavy enough stays in place for long enough, the floor has a way of adjusting to its presence.
Whether it’s at a library or a bookstore, that’s clearly what happened when a large bookcase was standing here. Even though it’s gone, the light grooves in this carpet show that it’s not forgotten.
There’s A Whole New Range Of Colors Now
This photo is great at showing that once a snazzy designer bag gets old enough, it not only falls out of fashion but appears to subtly change its color enough over time that it’s not longer even part of the fashion trend it started in.
After all, this bag looks pretty vibrant and colorful when it’s new but looks like something a wizard would carry around once those colors fade. The blues didn’t wash out so much but the purples certainly did.
Whenever A Structure Is Under A Dispenser, This Happens
No matter how strong a wall or floor is, it’s still going to be subject to erosion. Plants, running water and ice can break even the biggest and strongest rocks apart after they’re given enough time to do so.
However, it doesn’t always take a rushing river or a mischievous sapling to affect some masonry. Indeed, this photo shows that even a simple hand sanitizer dispenser can exhibit a similar effect once it has enough of a chance.
Hopefully, They Wash This Floor
Although it’s pretty routine to take one’s shoes off before going through security at some airports, it seems that this policy has been running like clockwork at the one in Edinburgh for a very long time.
That’s evident in these uniform, heart-shaped holes that thousands of sweaty feet have worn into the paint. Maybe that’s why most airports don’t usually color code these sections. They don’t stay festive and presentable for long.
It’s Surprisingly How Hard This Process Can Be To Notice
Although Reddit user tired_nonbinary understood that their Hello Kitty car decoration has been bleached by the sun in the three years since they bought it, that doesn’t mean they were prepared to see an old photo of it.
After spending so long looking at the ornament with just subtle blue and yellow colors, it was surprisingly easy to forget that reds and pinks where once its dominant colors. It’s like Hello Kitty’s wearing a completely different kimono now.
A Perfect Example Of Wear And Tear Mapping Behavior
When walking through a natural space, it’s not unusual to see “desire paths” that people’s feet have cut through the ground simply because they all wanted to take the same shortcut. However, the faded buttons on this remote control indicate the opposite phenomenon.
From the looks of things, this remote has been used over such a long period that almost every button has had its labels worn away. That means that after over a decade of having this device, its owners still don’t know what the “extra” button is supposed to do.
All Things Considered, They’ve Taken Good Care Of It
Normally, a childhood teddy bear will end up looking pretty threadbare once someone keeps sleeping with it into adulthood. However, it seems that this person is either an impressively calm sleeper or took their parents’ lessons to take care of their things seriously as a child.
After all, there may be some dirtiness and discoloration in the roughly 25 years since they slept with this teddy at birth, but the lack of any tears or similar structural blemishes is very impressive.
That’s One Unusual Deck Of Cards
Although it’s perfectly natural for a deck of cards to get worn after it’s involved in enough games, it usually doesn’t show that wear on only half of the deck. As it turns out, this is because the uploader’s family largely uses the deck for one specific purpose.
As it turns out, Euchre often needs just half the deck to play and apparently, they use the same half of the deck each time they play. At least, they do so often enough to darken only a portion of the cards.
Age Turned This Logo Generic
Apparently, this person’s fingers have brushed against the back of this key fob so often that the Chrysler logo has been worn down to almost nothing. Although the brand’s iconic wings remain, that seems to be about it, making it look like pilot wings as much as a car logo.
Although it wasn’t so long ago that the Chrysler logo had more than just the wings and text to its insignia, that simplified design is prone to becoming a lot more simplified with some wear and tear.
The Most Bittersweet Behavior Behind This Look
Although there’s a visible green streak running across this urn, that’s not what it looked like when one grandfather’s ashes were first laid to rest in it. Instead, it’s only come after a long period of deeply affectionate mourning.
As Reddit user Accurate-Pear5322 explained, “My grandfather’s urn has discolored and turned green from my grandmother kissing it every day since he passed.” As they later added, this ritual has taken place over the course of 15 years and the grandfather was a Korean War veteran.
It’s Surprising That The Franchise Owners Didn’t Expect This
There’s some noticeable wear on a specific section of this floor at a Subway restaurant and it’s one that the owner really should have predicted. After all, most people who order at Subway will follow their sandwich down the counter as it’s being made for them.
For that reason, it’s not unusual for Subway franchise owner to install a mat along that strip in front of the counter to prevent customers’ shoes from wearing out the floor. Clearly, not everyone thinks of that idea.
Honestly, Everyone’s Done Worse To A Pair Of Shoes
When Reddit user Zealousideal_Cup2806 posted this comparison of their new and old Converse sneakers, so many commenters insisted the old shoes still had years of life in them. Indeed, many of us can attest to letting shoes have far less traction before getting a new pair.
As for why the old soles were worn down in the specific places they were, it turns out that the uploader skateboards. That means the new soles are getting a good look at their future.
They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To
Although well-worn items can end up being too decrepit to use anymore, that’s not why the decision was made to retire this Pyrex measuring cup. Instead, there was just enough wear and tear to defeat the purpose of using it in the first place.
After 14 years of use, this image’s uploader said they could no longer read the lines on the measuring cup. Since that’s a pretty important part of measuring, it was time to get a new one.
It’s Easier For Stuff To Wear When It Was Cheap Anyway
This light switch has certainly seen better days and as far as the uploader can tell, those better days were about 30 years ago. However, if this switch seems to have an unusual amount of wear, looks can be deceiving.
As it turns out, when the switch was originally installed in the ’90s, it was covered in some cheap white paint. Thus, it’s the paint that’s being scratched away rather than the actual switch.
After All This Time, This Guitar Should Have Its Own Name
When a legendary musician is in the twilight of their career, it’s not unusual for their signature instrument to end up looking like it’s on the verge of falling apart. That’s true of Willie Nelson’s guitar Trigger and the late great B.B. King had as much affection for his beloved Lucille (though there were multiple Lucilles).
Although this instrument hasn’t quite lasted that long, it’s nonetheless very clear that this 1968 Fender Telecaster bass guitar has been around the block more than a few times.
The Surest Sign A Door Has Been There For A While
It’s well-known that a tree’s age can be determined by the rings of its trunk but it turns out that inorganic materials can sometimes work the same way. As it turns out, this this door has been in this building long enough to be painted over at least three times.
Apparently, enough people have also slathered their finger oils over this door to reveal all the colors that the building’s previous owners have wanted to see on it. If the building stands for a few more decades, they’ll have a whole rainbow.
Believe It Or Not, These Are Toys
According to Reddit user spenceryahoo, their bird absolutely loves sticking her feet in this special foot toy but that’s obviously a lot harder to do now that the central hole is all but hanging by a thread.
Naturally, this means that it was time to get a new one. However, it’s clear that the green cheek conure loved the old toy a lot while it was still usable because it only took a year for it to get like this.
