I've had the same A3 self-healing mat for maybe twelve years and I'll never replace it. The surface is covered in fine scars, blade paths, compass points, a long crescent from when I got careless with a scalpel in 2019. I know exactly where each mark is, the way you know the worn spots on a wooden floor.

Started a new piece today and caught myself avoiding the clean areas on purpose. Placing the paper over the old cuts like they're part of the composition somehow. I don't know if that's sensible or sentimental. Probably both.