Renting everything: convenience or dependence?
Hello, Project Hope friends, I send a warm greeting to everyone. Today I want to share a reflection on something that is increasingly heard in everyday conversations: the idea that in the future, "you will have nothing, but you will be happy." A phrase that sounds nice, but when analyzed carefully, it is quite disturbing.
It's increasingly common to hear people say they prefer to rent everything instead of buying. That it's more practical, that they don't want ties, that the world moves too fast to commit to something permanent. And of course, in some cases that can work, but the problem arises when it's no longer a choice, but an imposition disguised as modernity. Today, instead of buying a car, people use Uber.
Instead of buying a house, you rent it for life. We hardly ever buy music, movies, software anymore—everything is subscription-based. You pay as you use it, and if you stop paying, it simply disappears.
This model is being driven by global economic policies that prioritize mobility, constant consumption, and platform dependence. Little by little, they are leading us to a point where owning nothing is the norm. And that, although it may not seem like it, can affect our quality of life, our security, and, above all, our ability to build a more stable future..
Because it's not just about having things, it's about having something that's yours. A roof over your head that doesn't depend on the landlord's mood, a tool that doesn't stop working because a clause in the terms of use changed, a small piece of property you can leave to your children. All of this has value beyond money. It gives us a sense of belonging, stability, and control over our decisions.
It's important to question where we're going as a society and what kind of life we want to build. Do we want to rely on subscriptions for everything? Do we want to live as if everything is temporary? Having nothing isn't freedom if you don't have the option to choose. And freedom, in the end, is also having the ability to say: "This is mine, and no one can take it away from me." Although we know that the latter is also relative... anyway, I'd like to know what you think about it.
