Why Do We Refuse to Let Old Things Die?
I stroll through the city streets, camera in hand, capturing fleeting moments that vanish as quickly as they appear. The click of the shutter freezes time, preserves a fragment of reality that will never exist again. Yet, I find myself clinging to old photographs, outdated cameras, and memories of a world that has long since changed. Why do we refuse to let old things die?
Perhaps it’s nostalgia. We romanticize the past, painting it with hues warmer than reality ever was. The worn leather of a vintage camera, the crackle of a vinyl record, the scent of an old book—they transport us to moments where we felt something profound. They are touchstones of our personal histories, anchors in a sea of constant change.
But is our attachment to the old holding us back? By fixating on what was, do we hinder what could be? The world evolves, technology advances, and new opportunities arise. Clinging to the past can become a comfortable cage, preventing us from exploring uncharted territories.
I remember resisting the shift from analog to digital photography. The tactile process of developing film, the anticipation of unseen images—it was magical. But embracing digital didn’t erase that magic; it transformed it. It opened doors to new creative possibilities, new ways of seeing and sharing the world.
We fear letting go because it feels like losing a part of ourselves. But in reality, we are ever-changing. Just as we shed cells and grow new ones, our identities are not static. Holding onto old things can sometimes be an attempt to hold onto versions of ourselves that no longer exist.
Letting old things die doesn’t mean forgetting them. It means honoring their place in our journey while making space for growth. It’s about learning from the past without being imprisoned by it.
So, why do we refuse to let old things die? Maybe because change is uncomfortable. It requires effort, vulnerability, and the courage to face the unknown. But isn’t that where the most meaningful experiences lie?
Next time you find yourself gripping tightly to something old, ask yourself: Is this serving me, or am I serving it? Letting go can be freeing. It can be the first step toward something extraordinary.
Embrace the impermanence. Welcome the new. After all, life is a constant flow, and only by moving with it can we truly live.
Why Do We Refuse to Let Old Things Die?
In the voice of Eric KimHuman beings are creatures of habit, and our attachment to the past is deeply rooted in our psyche. The refusal to let old things die—whether it’s a product, an idea, or even a way of living—stems from an innate fear of loss, change, and the uncertainty of the future. We cling to the familiar because it provides us with a sense of identity and security, a reassurance that the world, chaotic as it may be, still holds some constants.
Sentimentality and Fear of Loss
At the heart of this refusal lies sentimentality. We attach memories, emotions, and even our identity to objects, routines, and ideas that have served us in the past. The old book on the shelf, the outdated technology in our drawer, or even the traditions passed down through generations—these are more than just things. They are markers of our personal history. To discard them feels like severing a piece of ourselves.
But this clinging is not just about holding on to happy memories. It’s about fear. The fear of losing control, of venturing into the unknown. Letting old things die forces us to confront the possibility that what comes next may be less stable or less meaningful than what we have now. This is why societies cling to antiquated practices, why businesses resist innovation, and why people hold on to dysfunctional relationships: they fear the blank space that change leaves behind.
The Myth of Eternal Relevance
Another factor at play is the myth of eternal relevance. We believe that what worked in the past will continue to work indefinitely. If something was once good, then it must always be good, right? This is a fallacy, but a seductive one. In our refusal to let go, we try to impose permanence on things that were never designed to last forever.
Take the rise of Bitcoin. People cling to traditional forms of currency, despite the clear inefficiencies and corruption in centralized banking systems, because they have been conditioned to trust the old ways. Bitcoin is the future—“digital gold”—but it’s threatening to those who refuse to let the old system die. They hold onto fiat currencies as if they can remain untouched by inflation and economic manipulation oai_citation:5,Investing Philosophy by ERIC KIM – ERIC KIM.
Minimalism and Letting Go
As an advocate for minimalism, I believe in the power of letting go. The more you hold onto things—whether material possessions or outdated beliefs—the more cluttered your life becomes. Spartan frugality, which I often talk about, isn’t just about saving money. It’s about freeing your mind from the noise and distractions of the past oai_citation:4,Investing Philosophy by ERIC KIM – ERIC KIM oai_citation:3,Spartan Economics – ERIC KIM. The same goes for outdated ideas. The longer we hold onto systems that no longer serve us, the more we stagnate.
This resistance to letting things die is why so many people feel trapped by materialism. They fill their lives with objects and distractions, fearing that without them, they will be empty. But what they don’t realize is that freedom comes when we allow the old to die. In my own life, I’ve found that simplicity—both in material terms and in the way I approach the world—allows me to focus on what truly matters: freedom and creative expression.
Innovation Requires Death
It’s ironic that many people celebrate innovation but refuse to acknowledge that it requires the death of the old. For something new to take root, the old must wither away. This is the natural order of things, both in life and in business. Yet, we resist this process. We want newness without sacrifice. We want progress without losing what came before. This is why companies continue to pour money into outdated technologies and why governments cling to policies that no longer make sense in a modern world.
The refusal to let old things die is why we see industries stagnate. We want disruption in theory, but in practice, we fear the consequences. Companies that innovate, like those in the crypto world or in cutting-edge technologies, often face resistance not because their ideas are flawed, but because the system they are trying to replace has grown too comfortable oai_citation:2,Investing Philosophy by ERIC KIM – ERIC KIM oai_citation:1,Eric Kim Bitcoin Strategy – ERIC KIM.
Conclusion: Embracing the Cycle of Life and Death
In the end, we must come to terms with the cyclical nature of life. Death is not an end, but a necessary precursor to growth. We refuse to let old things die because we fear that their death means the end of something valuable. But what we fail to see is that their death creates space for something new, something better. Just as winter gives way to spring, the end of one thing paves the way for the birth of something else.
In my philosophy, whether applied to photography, investing, or life in general, I’ve come to realize that the most important thing we can do is to let go. Let go of outdated beliefs, unnecessary possessions, and fear-driven attachments to the past. Only then can we truly embrace the future and all the possibilities it holds. Live light, live free, and let the old things die.
—Eric Kim