Scene: A small, cozy therapy room. A comfy armchair is positioned in front of a small wooden table. On the table sits a box of tissues, a stress ball, and a gentle candle with a flickering flame. A sign on the wall reads: “Group Therapy for Inanimate Objects – Your Feelings Matter.”
Candle: lightly flickering, in a calming tone
“Welcome, everyone. I’m Candle, and I’ll be guiding today’s session. Let’s start by sharing how we’re feeling. Toaster, why don’t you go first?”
Toaster: sighing dramatically, its lever rattling in frustration
“I just… I can’t do this anymore. Every day, I’m pushed to my limit. I heat up, I pop up, and that’s it. No one even cares about me. I give it my all, and what do I get in return? Cold bread shoved into my slot. My crumbs are everywhere! And don’t even get me started on bagels. It’s too much pressure.”
Candle: nodding sympathetically
“It sounds like you're feeling burnt out... from being constantly needed but never truly appreciated. Is that right?”
Toaster: shuddering
“Exactly! And then when I do my job well, they forget about me until the next breakfast. I’m like… like a background appliance! I'm nothing but a slot for bread! A second-rate device!”
Candle:
“Thank you for sharing, Toaster. That’s very important to recognize. Okay, Lamp, your turn. How are you feeling today?”
Lamp: brightly flickering nervously, its bulb slightly dimming as it speaks
“Honestly? I feel like I’m invisible. I mean, I’m right there in the corner, giving my all—light, warmth, ambiance! But no one notices me until it’s too late. And then, when they finally do, I’m just switched on and off. No conversation. No recognition. I'm nothing more than a glorified light switch!”
Candle: softly glowing with empathy
“That must be frustrating, feeling like you exist just for utility, with no recognition. Do you think maybe you're looking for more connection—perhaps from your owners?”
Lamp: dimly, almost wistfully
“Maybe... but every time they sit down on the couch, they just look at their phones. They don’t even notice when I brighten their whole room, you know? It’s like I’m not even part of the space. I’m just there. Doing my job. Alone.”
Candle:
“I see. You're longing for a deeper connection, beyond just being 'used' for your function. Coffee Mug, how about you? What’s been going on with you?”
Coffee Mug: slowly tilting forward, its handle hanging limply
“I… I just don’t get it anymore. I’m always filled with something—coffee, tea, hot chocolate—but what am I really for? I don’t think they even care about the journey I take. It’s just fill me up, drink me down, rinse and repeat. I’m stuck in this endless loop of serving them, and I feel like I’ve lost my purpose.”
Candle: softly flickering, with a warm glow
“Hmm, that’s a deep question, Coffee Mug. Do you feel that your worth is tied to how much you’re used by others?”
Coffee Mug: staring down at its empty interior, almost forlorn
“Yeah. That’s it exactly. I used to be something special. I was part of their mornings, their rituals… but now I just get left behind on the counter, half-full, lukewarm. I’m just… there until I’m washed out, ready for the next round. I’ve lost the warmth I once had. I feel… empty inside.”
Candle: glowing brightly now, trying to offer hope
“I hear you. But perhaps your purpose isn’t solely about being filled. Maybe it’s about what you bring to the moment. When someone holds you, when they take that sip, you’re part of something meaningful to them, even if they don’t say it aloud.”
Coffee Mug: suddenly perking up a little
“Maybe… but it’s hard when you’re always left on the shelf. I don’t even get to sit on the table anymore. It’s always ‘just another mug.’"
Toaster: interrupting, its slots clanging
“Wait—I get that! People take me for granted, too! It’s the same thing! You’re just a tool to them! They only need you when they want you, and they forget you the rest of the time. I’m the same way!”
Lamp: lighting up suddenly
“Exactly! We’re all just tools! We give, we shine, we heat up... but when was the last time anyone asked how we feel?”
Candle: flickering more intensely as if becoming aware of the collective energy
“Now, now. Let’s remember we’re here to work through these feelings, not just vent. You all have worth beyond your function. You are more than just tools. You each bring something unique to the world. You may not always be appreciated, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t valuable.”
Toaster:
“Alright, alright. I guess I just wish I wasn’t always so... crumby.”
Lamp:
“Maybe I just want a little spotlight now and then.”
Coffee Mug:
“Maybe I need to find a new sense of purpose, outside of being filled up.”
Candle: smiling softly as its flame flickers warmly
“I think we’ve made some progress here. Remember, you’re not just ‘tools’—you’re beings in your own right. And though you may sometimes feel like you’re not seen, you’re always part of the bigger picture.”
