Inside my package I have found what appear to be the contents of a time capsule project from an adolescent boy. I am merely an amateur psychologist, so I can only draw the baseline conclusions, and hope these were the intentions of my gifter.

For instance, several references are present regarding photography - a dispensed and discarded cardboard box, utilizing vintage technology. I believe it is safe to assume the sender is an avid film buff. There is also a date on the box - March 1985. I am curious as to the importance of this date.

My other major hunch is that the capsule owner is quite the sociopath in training. Inside we find broken objects, crude drawings, and a story which, based on the legibility of the handwriting, is a true account of an angry, scared little boy. The story indicates a rebellious nature - the main character pushes back against authority with name calling - both his teacher and mother who ultimately punish the youngster, and thereby pushing him further into his rage.

The large gaps and spacing in his handwriting indicate that he has trouble relating to other people and often finds himself seeking refuge from the hustle and bustle of real life. He is a hermit- a recluse. It is in his nature to be alone. The way each sentence creates a wave on the paper tells me he is emotionally unstable, maybe bipolar? The poor spelling, bad grammar, and missing letters represent a lack of attention to detail and an inferior education.

His emotional state is further backed with examples - such as a toy monkey, reminiscent of novelty dime store shops, with both its arms broken. One is present, which when left to my own devices I imagine symbolizes the young boy's apprehension at his own actions. He wishes to make amends, but can't find the outlet by which to right the wrongs he's committed. The zebra painting might be something of a self-portrait as the zebra often times symbolizes a struggle with two distinct identities. Is it too soon to conclude there may be a subtle form of schizophrenia hiding in there somewhere?

The scattered odds and ends of toys lead me to believe that this young man had an unstable childhood due to being raised in a broken home. The Corona bottle cap and stray beads tell of an alcoholic father and a mother who, like a once beautiful necklace, has fallen apart. The broken necklace could be an indicator of spousal abuse - which may be a leading cause of the psychological issues evident in this compact closet of skeletons.

As previously stated, I am under the impression the sender of the package is a male; however, the broken fairy decoration, pink pompom, and yellow hair clip seem to impart a confusion of sexual identity. Perhaps the single jack represents being left out of games as a child, always the one picked last for teams. One solitary Lego tells of a lack of foundation. The wire jacket represents his emotions in regards to not feeling safe. An eraser… if only it were that easy to make the pain go away! If only we could sprout wings and fly away from our troubles.

Lastly, there is a badge from the Red Cross. Are you calling out for help, young man? Is this lanyard an attempt to keep from losing something important? Are you afraid of losing yourself? Losing control? Maybe you already have. Maybe there was an accident as is indicated by the broken Lego helmet. What are you trying to tell me?

I have reached the bottom of the package and I am somewhat perturbed by what I have uncovered. I am still not certain why these particular pieces were chosen for me or what they were meant for, but I have decided to create an art piece in honor of this poor, tortured soul. I have fastened each memento into a collage that represents this lost boy finally breaking free of his past and bravely getting the help he so desperately needs in order to work through his heartbreaking mental illness. Stay strong, young man! I believe in you!

Tl;dr- An amateur psychological analysis of Secret Santa troll gift.