I’m curious to know what some of your favourite things are? But also, why are they your favourite things?
For example, why is your favourite colour blue? Or why is your favourite band, say, the Beatles? Why is your favourite food strawberry ice cream?
Is it just because, or is there a deeper meaning behind those things?
I started thinking about this because my eldest son’s favourite animal is, well, something rather wonderfully odd.
This summer, we took him to a place in Hong Kong called Ocean Park. It’s a theme park filled with all sorts of animal exhibits and aquariums. The main aquarium is spectacular. Filled with giant manta rays, sharks, octopuses, walruses, seals, and other giant fishy things.
But my son wasn’t interested in any of those. He only had eyes for one animal. And he searched for them inside every single tank.
Never mind the sharks and giant manta rays. Forget the massive walrus and the seals. The whole time he kept asking, “Daddy, where are the starfish?”
He absolutely loves them! We’ve been back several times and he’s always so excited to see them. And if you ask what his favourite animal is, that’s what he’ll tell you.
And, well, why not? I mean, an animal that is shaped like a star is pretty cool. I never really thought about it before.
My wife and I were a little perplexed at this strange fascination, to begin with, but after giving it some thought, I believe there’s a deeper connection.
He has a love for outer space. He can name all the planets and tell you some strange facts about them, like Venus is the hottest planet even though Mercury is closer to the sun.
I believe this stemmed from when we took him outside to look at the night-sky during the Full Moon festival over a year ago, when he was just 2 years old.
That evening the moon was spectacular. I recall him looking upward with such awe. It even frightened him. I remember holding him while he buried his eyes in my shoulder, occasionally peeking up to look at it before covering his eyes again.
I explained that the moon is our friend – always looking down on us. Sometimes we can only see part of it, sometimes we can’t see the moon at all, but it’s always there keeping watch while the sun attends to the other side of the earth.
Since that day, his fascination with the moon and space expanded. We read him lots of books on the topic. He loves looking up at the stars. He always asks where the moon and the planets are. For Halloween this year, he dressed up as an astronaut.
Now, I could be wrong. Maybe my son simply loves starfishes. But I believe it has a lot to do with his love of the moon and all things space-related.
When I think about some of my favourite things, I realise there’s usually a deeper meaning hidden behind them. It’s just, I often forget the why. My favourite colour is blue. When I think about why that is, I realise it’s because I have light blue eyes. As a kid, my parents used to tell me how beautiful they were. Weirdly enough I love drawing eyes too.
My favourite animal is the cheetah. I remember seeing it vividly as a kid on safari in South Africa. It was the first animal we saw on that trip. Within 5 minutes of driving into the reserve, we spotted this majestic cat feasting on an Impala. I remember our guide explaining that it was the fastest land animal on earth. I just thought it was the coolest cat on the planet.
I still do.
There were lots of other memories from that trip. We followed a pack of lions as they hunted and killed a mongoose one evening. Our guide surprised us with a treehouse brunch overlooking the reserve on the last day. My family and I agree it’s our favourite holiday.
I believe both my love of animals and travelling (another one of my favourite things) has a lot to do with that vacation.
Anyway, I bring all of this up because it’s fast approaching my favourite time of year. And I thought, if you’re struggling to think about what to get your loved ones for Christmas this year, perhaps, instead of thinking about what they like, maybe it’s worth thinking about why they love the things they do?
It might just give you the inspiration you’re looking for. If nothing else, reminding yourself of the deeper meaning behind the things you love might just bring out the wonderfully unique child in you too.
As it happens, that’s exactly why Christmas is my favourite time of the year.
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You can find AP2’s personal blog here at: https://pointlessoverthinking.com
You can also find him on Medium at: https://anxiouspilot2.medium.com
Or on Twitter at: @AnxiousPilot
Clear Air Turbulence 
Well written.
After reading your post, I started wondering why really I like a particular thing?
Why certain things are our favourite?
I tried to reason out but clueless.
What could be the real reason for this?
🤔🤔
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I think often we just have a natural infinity to certain things for no rhyme or reason. It’s entirely possible I built the meaning into the things I like. The reason came afterwards. It’s certainly one to think about. Thanks for sharing friend 🙏
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Thank you AP.
I recollected my childhood and remember I had fancy for transparent plastic sheaths.
I laugh at this 🤣 whenever I recollect….but till day I am unable to explain…
May be it is telling that I hate secrets being hidden instead of getting revealed??
May be transparent sheet reveals the secrets!!
May be something else?
May be nothing significant??
Crazy brain 🧠 with immaturity especially during childhood 😃😃
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Wow, what a very deep observation! I didn’t expect to click on this post and go back pondering so obsessively.
It’s fascinating and I definitely believe there is truth to your theory- different things we like being related to eachother by some or the other form.
I liked how you explained your love for the colour blue from an early compliment you received.
Everything’s most definitely related and we may be able to find out why if we dig deeper 🙂
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It’s interesting isn’t it. It could be that we build the meaning into our favourite things afterwards. I was thinking that maybe those stories – although true – are just clever ways my mind has connected the dots. Perhaps I just have a natural infinity to the colour blue and the meaning came after? It makes me wonder if what I say is correct. I suspect in some cases it must be, but not all. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Wishing you a merry Christmas 🙏
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My favorite color is pink because it makes me happy. It can be peaceful or sexy, fun or calming depending on my mood. I love reading because it makes me happy. It calms me and excites me. When I think about my favorites they all make me happy
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Pink is a good colour. As it happens, that’s my sons favourite colour (although I suspect this might change in time, I hope it doesn’t). Reading makes me happy too. Puts my mind in a positive frame. Thank you for sharing LA. Wishing you well 🙏
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What a wonderful story. I think you may very well be right in connecting your son’s fascination with the starfish with his love of outer space. 😊
And how amazing that you got to go on a Safari on South Africa. Definitely on my bucket list.
I visited Ocean Park in HK once when I was about 6. Wonderful memories there!
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Thanks Ab! Safari is a must. Ocean park is good fun. We enjoy it more than the Disney land here (which is tiny by global standards). A lot of focus on conservation which we like! Take care Ab. Wishing you and your family well 🙏
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Hello AP2! Thank you for giving me something to think about. As a child, I always had a favorite color, toy, tv show, song, etc. However, as I got older one favorite of an item became multiple favorites. Over the years, I have been asked many times, “What’s your favorite ____?” And it always takes me a minute to respond. Usually I respond with one of the top three things I can think of. But today you have given me something to think about. Seems like I need to take time to figure out what I really like. Thank you!!
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Hi Shaun – thank you! I think as children it’s more obvious. As adults we seem more confused – I think that has a lot to do with external noise clouding our judgement. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season Shaun! 🙏
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As a very visual person, I adore bright colors. My favorite color is red like flowers, red like fire and love and excitement. But I also love the cool blues and greens of sky, mountains, water, and green trees. They are soothing and remind me of the natural world. I always enjoy being surrounded by nature and knowing I am a part of it.
I love ideas and knowledge. Learning makes me feel alive. I love my fellow human beings, especially my family, and Robert in particular. Love gives me a reason for being.
AP, I enjoyed this post. The story of your son’s love of starfish and the night sky is heartwarming. When my son was young, we got him a telescope for the holidays. He used to take it up on the roof to look at the stars. Kuddos to you and your wife for enjoying family adventures and for encouraging your son’s interests! Have a lovely holiday season! ❤
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Hey Cheryl – thank you for sharing. I’m pleased you enjoyed the post. I believe one of the most important things a parent can do is pay attention and encourage their children’s unique interests. Have a lovely holiday season too! 🙏
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My favorite color is 5 because I like things in the middle, in mediation, and 5 is in the middle between 0 and 10. Also, 5 is an odd number and I like odd numbers more than even numbers because odd numbers are all symmetrical in one way or another. If I were to make a mountain starting with 0 and ending with 10, 5 would be on the top of the symmetrical mountain. Also, I love mountains because I love nature and I associate mountains with snow, which reminds me of all my best memories of going to the mountains with my family to restraints with a view, and also going sledding. I also find the way number 5 is written interesting, even though it’s not symmetrical, it looks like a pregnant woman or a fat man, depending on your perspective.
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I love how deeply you’ve thought about the number 5. I’ll never look at the number the same way again! Thank you for sharing 🙏
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You’re welcome.
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Restaurants*
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Hold up, YOU’RE also the person behind Pointless Overthinking? Wow, only today I’m realising this. Anyway, I share your son’s passion for space, though I don’t know why. Maybe I love the possibilities and the unknown. Great question to make me think. Thanks for this!
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Hey Stuart. This is my personal blog. I’m also part of the team behind Pointless Overthinking. Thank a for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed my musings. Have a happy new year 🙏
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How I resonate with your post! True, there is always a reason behind everything, a reason otherwise unfathomable but unfolds itself if only we look within. 🙂
I had always loved the colour yellow which I associated with warmth, with the dawn and dusk and pretty yellow flowers, much to the amazement of all my siblings and friends. They’d mock me for liking yellow and call me strange. Much later I read somewhere that people who like yellow are apparently unique or let’s say the oddballs. No wonder 😀
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Hi Parikhit! I’m pleased you enjoyed the post. The colour yellow – that’s rare to hear someone say that. I love it! Strange is good. Different is interesting. If you’re brave enough to be yourself in this world – you’re unstoppable. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment 🙏🙂
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“If you’re brave enough to be yourself in this world – you’re unstoppable.” So aptly said AP! Courage and belief are what we need to shine 🙂
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