"In Our O-pinion" is an OprahMag.com series where we share our unsolicited takes on everything from bath etiquette to whether or non you should divide the beak at group dinners. Here, senior editor Jonathan Borge defends his right to snuggle.

My relationship with Kit and Bun isn't taken very seriously. "Get that thing away from me!" a close friend always says whenever I bounce either of their pint-size fluffy bodies in her direction. "It'southward so weird that you lot exercise this—especially when you brand them talk."

But...is information technology weird?

This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in some other format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

I'm a 27-twelvemonth-old man who sleeps with his 2 favorite blimp animals, and I'g non embarrassed to say so. For about 4 years, Kit and Bun have grown closer to me than certain relatives I groan at the sight of ever volition. They cuddle with me in bed every dark. They've squeezed into my carry-on for over a dozen trips, earning frequent-flyer status. And whenever I make up one's mind to have on the role of ventriloquist, these two indeed tend to, err, speak up around loved ones—with distinct catchphrases, precise inflection, and sometimes, a little flake of sass.

Stuffed toy, Plush, Cartoon, Toy, Head, Snout, Textile, Animated cartoon, Design, Animation,

Bun and Kit, being themselves.

Jonathan Borge

What began as a joke rapidly snowballed into two lifelong friendships. Kit, an adorable black-and white plush puppy with an innocent smile, was gifted to me equally a sweet gesture from a boyfriend. The first time I saw her, my face lit up; she brought me an firsthand sense of childlike joy. Months later, said young man surprised me with Bun, a squishy mouse with glasses as circular as my own. I quickly became enamored with Kit and Bun because, without neglect, they e'er provided what humans could not: instant comfort.

I'thou enlightened that admitting I not merely sleep with, merely also speak to and assign voices for, my stuffed animals might make me audio immature. (Or perhaps fifty-fifty a weirdo with seriously suppressed issues.)

However, I'grand non alone.

Toy, Food, Comfort food, Side dish, Plush, Cup, Dairy, Frozen dessert, Dessert, Fictional character,

Kit loves Pinkberry frozen yogurt. Can you lot blame her?

Jonathan Borge

A 2018 report conducted past OnePoll and Life Storage reportedly found that four in ten adults, or 43 percent, even so appoint with a stuffed animal. And surprisingly, 84 percent of men own at least one, compared to the 77 percentage of women who exercise. And in 2017, All-time Mattress Brand polled over 2,000 Americans and learned that millennials (a.m.a. my generation) are the largest group to nevertheless sleep with stuffed animals—and that only 29 percent of people would experience bothered if their partner cuddled with their own versions of Kit and Bun.

Polls aside, the camaraderie that my ii inanimate objects (or friends, as I adopt calling them) provide also seems to be supported by science. As the Chicago Tribune points out, British psychologist and pediatrician Donald Winnicott coined the term "transitional object" to describe the items we easily grow attached to—stuffed animals, special blankets, or erstwhile pieces of article of clothing, for example. Apparently, they aid us feel less stressed after separation of any kind. And while this is virtually common with infants and toddlers, multiple studies have shown that adults can benefit from touching something comforting—especially those with depression self-esteem.

They provided what other humans could not: instant condolement.

Admittedly, I had a rather emotionally turbulent childhood (distressing, mom and dad!) that led to the development of psychological trauma in my adulthood. As a child, my rotating mix of Beanie Babies helped me get through stressors similar my mother's cancer diagnosis or—not quite every bit scary—the angst that came with meeting new classmates on the showtime day of schoolhouse. My "transitional objects" take always made me feel less isolated, and then information technology makes sense that years later, my human relationship with Kit and Bun doubles equally a coping mechanism for anxiety.

Just I believe you don't need some convoluted, science-backed reason to want to play with stuffed animals at any historic period. When I do cull to interact with Kit and Bun, it'south not considering I'thousand longing to go to the lesser of an emotion, the mode I would during a session with my psychotherapist. It's just considering I'k looking to have fun. Because for a moment, I desire to forget about real-life responsibilities.

Stuffed toy, Plush, Head, Toy, Snout, Textile, Glasses, Ear,

Bun loves attention, so this solo shot is a must.

Jonathan Borge

As a writer and storyteller, I've developed fully-fledged plotlines for Kit and Bun'southward lives. Kit is a precocious pre-K pupil with a passion for Madewell denim skirts and an affinity for doing what's right. Her mischievous sister, Bun, still, is a huge flirt who isn't agape of telling information technology similar it is—and who'due south racked upward major debt on her department store credit card.

See? It'southward amusing. An escape.

My friends are well aware of my blimp animals' unique personalities, and then much and then that they've conditioned themselves into properly greeting Kit and Bun whenever they come over for movie dark. And the dynamic duo became a central office of the relationship I have with the swain who gifted them to me. Subsequently years of owning them, Kit and Bun would swoop in to interject during our arguments, acting every bit buffers to get us to push the conversation toward the meliorate. We cared for them together with as much intensity as pet owners care for their actual animal friends.

No matter how hard the going gets, Kit and Bun are always there to make me laugh. They also serve as soft, cotton-padded figurines I can—literally—cry on. As you'd expect, some of my loved ones raise their eyebrows at the sight of me interacting with them in my spare time. But the bespeak of maintaining the friendship I've created with these 2 stuffed animals isn't to print anyone. Instead, information technology'southward to make myself feel better—to get 1 stride closer to living my platonic of a best life.

So no, I'm not aback of because Kit and Bun two of the closest friends in my life. And I don't program to get rid of them or put a halt to the imaginary adventures I create for them each twenty-four hours. In fact, considering they were purchased from the kids' department at H&Grand and enough of their adorable lookalikes are available online, I'll end with an idea I've been pondering for a while: it may exist time for my family to grow.

For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter!

preview for The Dating Game | The OG Chronicles

This content is imported from OpenWeb. Yous may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more data, at their web site.