Do not let your things own you
Pixel 5 - 33/20000 sec, f2.2 at 111/50mm
I do not recall where I heard it or exactly how it goes but it was something like do not let your things own you, you own your things. I have thought about that statement so many times, usually in the middle of the night.
It is quite a difficult thing for me to handle. It goes with the other thing that goes something like, do not buy things, buy experiences. Apparently the research says that experiences bring much more happiness than material things. But I'm willing to bet good money that the researches were not people that struggle a little with anxiety or related afflictions that makes experiences difficult to face. Compared to things where the thing provides no problem other than a small dose of buyers remorse.
Anyway, the way I see do not let your things own you is a little akin to having your cake and eating it too. I am reminded of this all the time with my car. Back in 2019 I bought a car that is truly stupendous in every conceivable way you can measure. I love it in every way. There are better cars of course, but for the money, this one is 80% of all those other more notable cars at some much smaller percentage of the cost.
However, every time I drive it I note the mileage and how I'm using it up. But what if other than driving are cars made for? I cannot drive it and love it and not use it up at the same time. Thus me admonishing myself that I own the car, it does not own me.
So note to myself. I will be gone at some point and when I'm gone, having a barely used BMW in the garage will be of no use. Use it, it's not a museum piece. Drive it around corners, because happiness is the corner.
The Photo
One of the 50 odd pohutakawas in our backyard flowering early last year.
)