Do We Own Anything?

Inspired by a Japanese guy who got famous for his service "self-rent and do nothing", or as known as "Mr. Rental", we would like to dig deeper into the philosophy of ownership.

Mr. Rental isn't some random losers just so everyone understands. He has a master's degree and used to work as an editor. He didn't quite like his job and after 3 years of that, he decided to quit and just do what he feels like doing. Apparently, what he does best is what he likes, being there for others for the sake of being.

It's a bit embarrassing to say this but we never actually watched the adapted drama series. The concept of Mr. Rental is what's intriguing.

What does it mean to rent? People rent cars, houses and all kinds of items. We pay for a smaller amount of fees in order to have the right of usage temporarily. The reasons vary, from not being able to afford the cost of buying to simply not wanting to own something.

What Mr. Rental did drew much discussion because he was renting himself out to "do nothing". Can we rent a person? Has it never been done before? The answers are yes. We just don't call it renting, but instead hiring. Companies have needs, people provide their services, and therefore they are hired. It is as simple as that. However, if a company hires someone to do nothing and is happy about it, that would be odd.

When we look at something at its face value, this is what happens. Writers promote or imply how the protagonist in the story makes easy and quick money; browsers become attracted to the implication and seek opportunities to profit as well. Was making money the reason Mr. Rental become famous? Did he start a business and recruit other "Rental people"?

Read carefully among different related articles, and you'll understand that the original story was never about money but telling us to "stop trying to be what you're supposed to and be who you really are". Was our main character a non-educated, uncaring opportunist who takes advantage of others? No.

We live in a time that is most connected but most broken. Everyone seems great on the surface but deeply lonely and insecure underneath. Wherever a demand occurs, there's a supply. One Japanese man, hardly the first, saw the need and was willing to help. That sums it up.

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In our lifetime, in this world, what is really owned? We invented the exchange, money, business, and all kinds of business such as renting, using credit, buying and selling nothing(stock)... but do we actually possess any of the things we "buy or pay for"?

We don't own anything because everything we have now is merely borrowed. Our personal phones, cars, houses, and even our bodies are all temporary items and must be returned to their origin in time. This may appear to be religious-sounding but we would stress that it's more philosophical.

Every day, people go to work and get paid so they can spend the money, and therefore, someone else gets paid. We are all rented by employers who are rented by companies that are rented by consumers who are rented by other companies. It's a merry-go-round.

What we really own is perhaps our free will but even that can be manipulated or manufactured. Not everyone has the ability to harness free will but we certainly were born to have it. There are people who want it from others, some even give up their most precious power and choose to "be willed" by others. In the end, we have ONLY our will to act or unact.

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More often than not, the way many commoners see good deeds being done, they tend to believe there's business involved or there should be no cost of such kindness. They've got this all confused. It is one issue to do business and the way to do it is another. Baristas make coffee and sell them; they can sell it in the faith of making coffee lovers happy. It doesn't mean they can't make money out of this nor they could only think about profit. The same concept applies to ALL walks of life.

Over the years of English teaching and education, we have met countless inquirer for the program and 90% of them think learning with us is free of cost. We wish so as well. If only that we're funded to do it. That said, those inquirers aren't the real people in need. They are sheer freeloaders. They want to take and give nothing back. It's sad but they are inevitable. We will not be discouraged by sticks and stones.

#selfreflect