THERE are just some things you never outgrow.
For Necy Lim, her penchant for collecting lovable Hello Kitty items, which began when she was in high school is a hard, hard habit to break.
Working in Japan, the home of Hello Kitty, in her 20s exposed her even more to the country's kawaii (meaning lovely, cute or adorable in Japanese) pop culture.
"For OFWs, you are known for two things: chocolates and stuffed toys. Living abroad was quite lonely and I would find joy and comfort from my Hello Kitty plush toys. They served as trophies of my hard work," Necy shared.
She temporarily stopped collecting her Hello Kitty merchandise when she became pregnant in 2000. In 2018, she revived her Sanrio fascination and it has skyrocketed since then.
A purr-fect homage
Now at 43, Necy's expansive Hello Kitty collection of bags, clothing, accessories, household items, stuffed toys, among others, has filled an entire room in their house.
Eighteen-year-old son Ruperth and husband Rickey are all-out in support of her passion, despite her being the only lady in their household. In fact, the duo was hands-on when Necy told them that she wanted to completely transform their room into an homage of the iconic feline.
"We changed our bed sheets, curtains, and wallpaper to ones with Hello Kitty designs. I also began adding Hello Kitty stuffed toys on our Hello Kitty bed and drawers, shelves, and dresser," she excitedly recalled.
Among her most treasured memorabilia are a Hello Kitty stuffed toy from Build-a-Bear; Loungefly bag; Instax camera; a human-sized stuffed toy version; and kitchen appliances.
"Currently, I honestly do not know how many Hello Kitty items there are in my room. There are just too many to count," she expressed with amusement.
Stay pawsitive
Necy revealed that as a dialysis patient, her love for Hello Kitty gave her so much bliss, especially during the times when she feels down and depressed about her condition.
"It may sound weird, but Hello Kitty gives me strength. I even look forward to my dialysis sessions because I get to wear my Hello Kitty clothes, flaunt it in the hospital, and make people turn their heads when I pass by. It also makes other dialysis patients happy and adds color and excitement to the gloomy hospital," she explained.
Necy is likewise grateful to discover fellow Hello Kitty lovers in communities and groups online. They bond and share their love for Sanrio's world ambassador.
"I eventually became the founder of Hello Kitty Team Mindanao which is a group of Hello Kitty fans residing in Mindanao. I am also the administrator in online groups like Hello Kitty Collectors and 100% Hello Kitty Lovers. Personally, these groups have inspired me in my collection and room transformation. They helped me source more items to add to my growing collection, too," Necy revealed.
Vlogging with a cat-titude
Being bored at home led Necy to discover the world of YouTube and vlogging.
"I was amazed by how people could share their personalities and interests online and even make a profit out of it. I thought, given that I am just staying at home doing nothing, why don't I give vlogging a try? If I am lucky, I may get to earn money that could help our family financially especially for my dialysis medication," she disclosed.
Most importantly, Necy genuinely enjoys her new endeavor. It gives her motivation as well as a sense of productivity and escape. Her YouTube channel "Kitty Necy Diary" has now more than 2,500 subscribers.
"In this hobby of ours, there may be people who would judge us but for me, as long as we are happy in what we are doing and not hurting anybody, then there is no reason for us to be affected by what other people think," she said.
According to Necy, she cautions fellow aficionados not to prioritize one's obsession over basic or more important needs. She advises them "to be aware when things become too much."
However, she believes that her Hello Kitty prized possessions amassed through the years is not a waste of money. "Money can certainly not be compared with the euphoria and comfort my Hello Kitty collection has given me," Necy enthused.
Her never-ending love affair with Hello Kitty is undeniably 'fur' keeps!
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