Do We Really Own Anything in This Life?
By Oluwole Solanke (PhD, FCIB)
We live in a world obsessed with ownership.
We claim titles, build empires, and collect things—cars, houses, land, clothes, investments—as if we can anchor permanence in a world built on change.
But pause for a moment. Strip away the illusions.
And ask yourself: Do we really own anything in this life?
Everything We Own Will Outlive Us
The truth hits hardest in moments of loss or transition.
When someone passes on, their prized possessions remain—but they do not.
The house still stands. The bank account is frozen. The clothes are packed away. The nameplate on the door is replaced.
We leave behind everything we once called “ours.”
Because in reality, nothing here is permanent. We are stewards, not owners.
Time Is Borrowed. People Are Gifts. Moments Are Fleeting.
Your life is made up of borrowed moments.
The time you spend with your loved ones. The opportunities you enjoy. Even the body you inhabit—it all comes with an unseen expiration date.
We often hold on too tightly. To people. To positions. To possessions.
But none of them truly belong to us. They’re entrusted to us for a season.
And when that season is over, we must let go—gracefully or painfully.
Letting Go of the Illusion
Ownership gives us the illusion of control. But life teaches us, again and again, that control is a myth.
The car you polish today may be gone tomorrow.
The business you built may change hands.
The title you hold may one day become just a memory.
So what, then, is truly yours?
What Truly Belongs to You
The love you give freely.
The integrity with which you live.
The impact you leave in someone’s heart.
The legacy you build through kindness, wisdom, and sacrifice.
These are the things no one can take from you.
They are not housed in banks or closets. They live in people’s memories and in the quiet echoes of eternity.
Living Light, Loving Deep
When we accept that we don’t truly own anything, something incredible happens:
We begin to hold people more gently.
We start to give more generously.
We stress less about possessions.
We value moments more than materials.
We stop chasing more—and start becoming more.
Conclusion
No, we don’t really own anything in this life.
We are caretakers of blessings. Stewards of time. Travelers passing through.
So while you’re here, live fully. Love deeply. Give freely.
And remember: what you give away often lasts longer than what you try to keep.
Because in the end, it’s not about what you owned.
It’s about who you became—and how you made others feel while you were here.
