The more you own, the more owns you.
The consumerist dream
In America the propaganda is this:
You must own everything.
The American dream as owning your own car, owning your own home, and continually purchasing more shit.
My thought: perhaps it is better to lease, rent, or purchase refurbished whenever possible. Why? Let me outline some of my thoughts:
The upside of renting or leasing
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-09-12-at-12.45.08-PM-JPG-1800x1068.jpg?resize=1200%2C712&ssl=1)
For myself:
- I would never want to own a home. Why? The stress associated with paying taxes, fixing it, maintaining it. I would be a trillion times happier living in an Airbnb or hotel. Probably one of the best experiences of my life was living in a hotel for around 3 months while in Saigon— the ultimate zen living experience (no worries, no cares, no concerns, no stress).
- Anti car ownership: I haven’t bought a car since I was 19 years old (1990 Mazda Miata while in college). In today’s world, taking Uber/Lyft is a trillion times more convenient for transit (no dealing with parking, insurance, filling up gas, etc). I still appreciate cars for their design, but I enjoy them more like sculpture rather than something I really want to own. And for my future Lamborghini, perhaps I will just lease or rent it (I’m sure I will tire of it in about 3 months).
What is good to own?
![Silhouette](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-09-12-at-9.42.47-PM-JPG.jpg?resize=1200%2C656&ssl=1)
Good to own your laptop (maxed out MacBook Pro, refurbished). Why? It’s probably the most important tool in your entrepreneurial arsenal. I love my iPad Pro, but ultimately the iPad isn’t as essential as a strong laptop.
You probably want to own the few clothes you wear everyday. But for superfluous dressy clothes, probably better to use a service like “Rent the runway”. Or if you need a tuxedo, just rent it for events.
![Building Berlin](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Screen-Shot-2019-09-12-at-9.41.36-PM-JPG-1800x1072.jpg?resize=1200%2C715&ssl=1)
Our life is on lease
Nothing is meant to last forever, nor will it last forever. Our lives are the same — we are simply “leasing”our time here on planet earth. Realize that no matter how much gold, possessions, or fame you possess while you’re alive — you cannot take it with you once you die. Better to be poor while you’re still alive than to own all the gold in the world while in hades.
![Berlin, 2019 #abstract](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii69-1800x1200.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Ownership as a distraction
![](https://i1.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii64.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii63.jpg?ssl=1)
![Berlin, 2019 #abstract](https://i2.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii62.jpg?ssl=1)
I think shopping and desiring to buy new stuff is a massive distraction. The ultimate goal is artistic creation. Buying new clothes won’t help you be more artistically motivated. Buying a new car won’t help you become more artistically creative. Having more money, power, or influence won’t inspire you to make more art.
![](https://i2.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii67.jpg?ssl=1)
![E](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii65.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i1.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii61.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii44.jpg?ssl=1)
![my hand](https://i2.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii43.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/eric-kim-photography-berlin-v6-2019-ricoh-gr-iii40.jpg?ssl=1)
My ideal life
- Living in Airbnb, fully furnished studio, or hotel. As little concern maintaining my living quarters.
- Living in a city which allows me to walk much, photograph much, and think much.
Ownership ties us down.
The more things we own, the more we are owned.
ERIC
ZEN
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eric-kim-photography-favorites-158-1000x662.jpg?resize=1000%2C662)
Less is better:
- The Will to Simplicity
- ZEN PHOTO. To Improve Your Life, Subtract the Superfluous from Your Life
- Same But Different
- The Zen of Street Photography
- Zen Photography
- Walking Meditation in Street Photography
- How to Be a Zen Street Photographer
- The Less You Have, the More You Have
- Prune Excess
- Prune in Order to Grow
- Zen in the Art of Street Photography
- The 7 Aesthetics of Zen Art For Photographers
- 15 (More) Lessons Taoism Has Taught Me About Street Photography
- How to Find Tranquility in Your Photography
- How to Find Zen in Street Photography
- Why Less is More in Street Photography (and Life)
- Why You Should Shoot with One Camera and One Lens
- 5 Essentialist Tips in Street Photography
- 10 Principles of Good Street Photography
- Deep Focus
- Follow Your Intuition
- Notice
- Listen
- Downgrade
- Less, But Better
- Seek Emptiness
- Wonderment & Awe
- Timeless