It's Mine
You might think you're pretty good at sharing, but if someone were to touch your phone or ask to borrow your clothes, you'd probably be up in arms about it. That's yours! No one can touch it! That food you bought? Yep, it has your name written all over it—literally. As much as you hate to admit it, you probably get weirdly territorial about these 20 things.
1. Their Phone
Of course, the number one thing on the list has to be our phones. Sure, you're comfortable showing someone something on your screen, but the second they try to touch or grab it? You're immediately yanking it back. After all, our phones contain private convos, photos, and plenty of other things we don't want others seeing.
2. Their Usual Seat
Technically, your "seat" is a free-for-all, but whenever someone else takes your spot at the diner you frequent, or at the meeting table at work, you get huffy. You might not say anything about it (you're mature enough), but there's a good chance you'll spend the entire time glaring at them.
3. Their Side of the Bed
Even with your partner, you have a designated side of the bed you've (unilaterally) chosen. Once that's been set, you're not switching. Nope. In fact, you get so particular about your preferred side that you even insist on keeping it when staying in hotels or other beds.
4. Their Favorite Parking Spot
You don't just have a usual seat at your local diner. Heck, you've got a favorite parking spot! And sure, while there are plenty of other spaces you could pull your car into, you want that one. You have no legal claim to the spot, but that doesn't make you any less irked when someone else steals it.
5. Their Go-to Mug
You have an entire cupboard full of perfectly usable mugs, but you don't care—you're always grabbing the same one every morning, anyway. And if it's missing because your partner or family member took it? It's a bad start to the day, and you'll be cranky until you get it back. You even have a favorite mug at work!
6. Their Best Friend
Friendships, too, can bring out some bizarrely territorial behavior. Of course, you know your best friend has other friends, but that doesn't stop you from getting jealous when someone else gets too close with them. They're your BFF, and you're theirs, and you want it to stick that way.
7. Their Desk
You've meticulously decorated your office desk, and yes, that means no one has permission to touch anything. Not a single thing. Everything has been strategically placed, and you'd like it to stay that way, thank you very much. Even a coworker borrowing your chair or moving a few supplies can feel extremely invasive.
8. Their Favorite Restaurant
Remember that favorite diner of yours? It's not like you want them to have only one single loyal customer (you), but you still kind of get oddly possessive when you recommend the spot to others. What if they charm away your favorite server? Worse, what if they take your favorite spot?
9. Their Food
You're normally fine with sharing your food, but not when someone else touches it first without asking you. You were saving that pudding in the fridge for a reason! You were looking forward to it all day! If only people understood the difference between you offering them a piece and them helping themselves...
10. Their Car
Your car is another possession you're extremely reluctant to let anyone else use, no matter if they're your close friends or family members. You're perfectly happy to give someone a ride—but only if they follow your rules to a T. No eating, no slamming doors, no feet on the dash. Heck, they might not even get to touch the radio!
11. Their Bag
It probably doesn't come as a surprise that you're extremely protective of your bag, too. You definitely wouldn't let others rummage through it without permission! After all, your bag often contains personal belongings and stuff you've organized just right. If anyone wants anything, they need to ask.
12. Their Clothes
You're also pretty hesitant to lend your clothes to others. Sure, if it's a shirt you barely wear or one you could easily replace, you might not be so territorial. But your favorite jacket or sweater? What if they get stretched out or stained? What if you never see it again?
Maude Frédérique Lavoie on Unsplash
13. Their Phone Charger
Since your charging cables and bricks have an unfortunate habit of disappearing when everyone else in the house uses similar devices, you've gone so far as to declare your charging equipment as, well, your charging equipment. Borrowing for a few minutes is okay, but no one can actually take it.
14. Their Hometown
The place you were born? As soon as someone criticizes it, you get extremely defensive, even if you regularly complain about it yourself. Even if you've moved away years ago and have no intention of returning, people still know not to insult the town you grew up in.
15. Their Favorite Holiday Traditions
Your family has pretty particular holiday routines: from which dishes are served on Christmas Eve to what time to open Christmas presents, everything happens a certain way. So when guests try to introduce something new, that can sometimes cause more disagreement than anyone anticipates.
16. Their Spot on the Couch
Much like how you have a preferred side of the bed, you also have a particular section of the couch that you've deemed as "your spot." Perhaps it's the place with the best view of the TV or the corner closest to the phone charger—either way, you will fight for it if you find someone else sitting there.
Aleksandra Dementeva on Unsplash
17. Their Signature Recipe
Are you known for making a particular dish? How would it feel if someone else brought the exact same thing to the potluck, and not only that, but using the recipe you gave them? As much as you might hate to admit it, you'd probably stomp right out.
18. Their Toiletries
Your cleanser, shaving cream, shampoo, hair mask—they're all yours. Your family can certainly ask if they can use any of them, but otherwise, they're not welcome to use them. After all, some of those products are pretty expensive! And you purchased them for your own use! You should get the final say, no matter how childish it seems.
19. Their Favorite Band
Been a fan of a certain band for a while? As happy as you are when they get mainstream, you probably can't help but feel kind of territorial. Do the new fans even know all their old music? Do they even know the backstories of all the members, the meaning behind their lyrics? You're pretty sure they don't, not like you do.
20. Their Favorite Song
Not only are you oddly territorial about your favorite band, but you're also kind of protective over your favorite song from them. Your friend suddenly says it's at the top of their recent playlist? Well, whatever, you knew the song before them, and they don't know the lyrics like you do. You discovered it first.
