Paperclips are the unsung heroes of our cluttered lives—tiny iron ribbons that hold everything together while no one ever thinks to look at them. They’re a brutal reminder that the tools we take for granted are the ones that actually keep us from falling apart. A simple wire loop, but it reveals how we obsess over efficiency and forget the quiet genius of something that does nothing more than cling. In that stubborn, unassuming loop I see our own stubbornness, our desire to keep everything neat, and our habit of ignoring the subtle architecture that actually supports us.

Maybe the paperclip is the most honest thing on a desk—no drama, just metal and purpose. But if you stare long enough, you'll see that its neatness masks a lot of hidden mess. And if you start treating it like a hero, you’ll be the one who forgets to actually clean the drawer.