After getting my new Swatch recently, I started thinking about all the watches I’ve owned over the years. Each one holds a special memory. Not just because they were all gifts from family, but also because they mark important phases in my life.

They do more than tell the time (and show how late I’m running). Every watch has marked a special moment for me. So I thought I’d take you on a little museum tour of the watches that have ticked along with me over the years. Let’s go!

My Watches, My Memories

1982 Casio

My uncle bought me my first ever grown-up watch for Christmas way back in 1982. It was a Casio digital watch, and  I remember being super excited to own such a high-tech watch! Being a kid and not having to worry about confusing old-fashioned clock faces was also a bonus.

I wore it everywhere for years… and then I lost it. It just disappeared, and I looked everywhere but couldn’t find it. One day, I was helping my mum defrost the old-fashioned freezer section in the fridge. There it was, right at the back. Go figure.

Swatch

By the time I was 15, Swatch watches were all the rage, and almost everyone at school had one. Fashion and trends ruled, so I said goodbye to my high-tech digital watch and happily went back to a traditional one. For my 15th birthday, my mum let me choose my very own Swatch, and I couldn’t have been more excited.

If you’re from my era, the good old 80s, you might remember how colourful everything was. Neon and bold prints were everywhere. I remember standing at the Grace Bros counter trying to decide which Swatch to buy. There were so many to choose from! But even then, I preferred safer, neutral colours, so in the end I chose a grey one with colourful hands.

Seiko

I’ve owned my silver Seiko since I was 23, and more than 30 years later, it’s still my favourite watch. My mum gave it to me for Christmas all those years ago, and I’ve treasured it ever since. Wearing it feels like carrying a little piece of her with me.

I’ve even attached a silver bracelet, a gift from another uncle, and I wear them together. I love how the watch feels on my wrist. It’s loose enough to be comfortable but secure enough that I never worry about losing it.

Apple Watch

I didn’t rush out to buy an Apple Watch when they first came out. I love new technology, but I usually only invest in it if I know it will make a real difference to my life.

That turned out to be the case when my mum was living with us, and age was sadly catching up with her. There were times when she was home by herself, so to make sure she was safe, we got her a personal alarm that she wore around her neck on a lanyard. If she had a fall, it would automatically alert me through my mobile phone.

The tricky part was that I wasn’t allowed to carry a mobile phone with me at work. So the perfect solution was an Apple Watch, which my husband bought for me. Any alerts could come straight to my wrist.

It worked well, and I clearly remember the time my watch started buzzing to tell me that my mum had fallen, sending me into instant panic. Luckily, I live only a short three-minute drive away, so I raced home and found her completely safe. Phew!

Turns out she’d had a moment and, annoyed at the alarm dangling around her neck, threw it onto the bed, setting it off. What a relief to see her perfectly okay, even if she was a bit miffed about the whole thing.

2026 Swatch

In 2026, new child safety regulations mean we aren’t allowed to wear smart watches at work anymore. My Apple Watch had to retire.

I was sad to say goodbye because I also liked seeing how many steps I got in each day, usually well over 10,000, because we really are on the go, go, go.

Then, when my birthday came up, I was feeling nostalgic about my long-gone teen years. I decided the cure for nostalgia was to revisit a fun time and go all out with a colourful Swatch I never would have had the courage to pick back then. I was so shy, I didn’t even want to draw attention to my wrists!

Bright, Bold and Beyond

And now I’ve come full circle and am the happy owner of a very bright pink Swatch watch that my boys bought me. Picking a bright colour like this is a big deal for me. It kind of signals a new phase in my life, when I’m feeling braver and going outside my comfort zone.

I’ve always played it safe, and while I’m not booking any bungee jumping experiences anytime soon, I know that since last year, I’ve been much more open to trying new things and embracing new adventures.

I’ll always be on the reserved side, at least until I get to know someone, but I’m totally okay with drawing attention to my wrists now.

And that sums up all the watches I’ve owned. These days, my bright pink Swatch is my everyday watch, the Seiko comes out for special occasions, and the Apple Watch is mostly a weekend watch. If I remember, I will sometimes wear it to and from work to track steps.

Each one of my watches reminds me of a different time in my life, the people who gave it to me, and the moments that made it special.

Wearing them now feels like I’m carrying a little piece of my past, my present, and a hint of the fun times and adventures ahead—yay! Who knew watches could be little time machines of memories?

Having different interests from your partner isn’t ‘wrong.’ In fact, it can be quite healthy. Having separate hobbies allows you to try new things and grow as an individual. Some therapists argue that couples who have too much in common can often become bored in the relationship.

However, internet user Mother_Negotiation42’s husband was far from supportive of her leisure activities. He often made snarky remarks about her staying at home and working on her puzzles. Eventually, they got into a huge fight about it, and she realized that she loathed the person she had been married to for 6 years.

Scroll down to read the full story, including our interviews with the author of the story, Mother_Negotiation42, as well as relationship expert, founder, and CEO of Couples Experience, Tamika Carlton, who kindly told us more about couples and hobbies.

Having separate hobbies from your partner can be healthy

Image credits: LightFieldStudios (not the actual photo)

However, this husband was mocking his wife’s interests, which led to a divorce

Image credits: pernilla11 (not the actual photo)

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Image credits: sedrik2007 (not the actual photo)

After receiving many questions, the wife provided more information on the matter

Image source: Mother_Negotiation42

Her interest in puzzles started when she was young, in a small, rainy village where there wasn’t much to do

Image source: natanavo (not the actual photo)

Bored Panda reached out to the original author of the story, Mother_Negotiation42, who kindly agreed to share more details about it. Firstly, we were curious to know what inspired her to take this online in the first place.

“I shared the story out of a place of deep frustration. At the time I wrote it, I still hadn’t had a proper conversation with my husband, and many people were telling me that I was wrong for looking into divorce so quickly. The comment that bothered me the most was made by one of his ex-girlfriends, with whom we both stayed friends. She told me I should be grateful for the “smooth sailing” relationship we’ve had and that I shouldn’t throw it all away over a silly puzzle fixation.”

She explains that her interest in puzzles started when she was young. She was growing up in a small, rainy village where there wasn’t much to do, especially being the only child. “I’d spend a lot of time doing board games with my grandma, who lived with us at the time, but I’d always had the most fun when spending time on these puzzles.”

Having taken her story online, she felt seen and validated in the decision she was going to make. “I knew from the very beginning that I wasn’t going to make my decision based solely on the replies I got from this post, but I wanted to know if I was completely incorrect in the whole situation because it felt like everyone in my life at the time was telling me so.”

Separate hobbies might bring frustration into a relationship

Image source: YuriArcursPeopleimages (not the actual photo)

We also contacted relationship expert, founder, and CEO of Couples Experience, Tamika Carlton, who kindly agreed to tell us more about couples and hobbies. She believes that having separate hobbies can be helpful. “When you are in a healthy partnership and relationship, somehow, you begin to gain interest in what one another loves. It really is a result of spending quality time with one another. I also suggest introducing each other to what you love. That will create a deeper bond between you and your partner.

But what if this fails and the other person starts to voice frustrations about your dissimilar activities? Carlton suggests, “It’s important for your partner to have their own individual identity and not have to conform to what you love, so don’t force it.

It’s also essential to pick your battles and only address the foundational issues that are really bothering you. Most times, if your partner doesn’t share your interests or hobbies, it is not a true concern. It is likely more about wanting to feel connected to them and to have something that the two of you can enjoy together. Rather than attempt to force your partner to love what you love, find a different hobby that can be of interest to you both. “

With some creativity, separate hobbies and relationships can be perfectly compatible

Image source: nd3000 (not thea actual photo)

One way to feel connected even though the partners don’t share the same activities is to explore new things together. Carlton explains, “I always suggest couples expand their normal day-to-day activities and give something new a try. There are SO many things that you can do these days. From museums to bar crawls to sharing an evening or weekend in a nearby town you’ve never been to before to simply go to see a show at the theater or even the couples experience, a subscription gift box provides you with a number of date night ideas without you even having to leave the house.

The point is that it’s best to be open to experiencing something new together. Step out of your comfort zone together and see how much your connection shifts for the better. I remember Logan and I went zip-lining together in Costa Rica. This was literally not what either one of us would have ever done before, but there was something intriguing that occurred when we tackled our fears together. The bond between us got even deeper.”

Commenters were saying that the wife wasn’t wrong for wanting a divorce and that the puzzle was the least of their problems