- hypothesis: collective abundance through stewardship is better for human flourishing than personal abundance through individual ownership - antidote to overconsumption and materialism - ownership: control, personal benefit, possession, accumulation - stewardship: preserving, nurturing, care, guardianship, shared benefit - indigenous peoples were stewards of the land - museum curators are stewards of cultural artifacts - we all protect and preserve our resources for the good of our community - scenarios - `everyone wants a puppy at christmas`: gap in desire to own and responsibility to care - `children clutch their toys`: scarcity mindset -> defensive ownership - problems with ownership - over accumulation - underutilization - hidden cost of ownership: everything we own demands something from us: care, money, space, time, attention - insufficient stewardship creating suffering in livings things, waste for objects, stagnation in skills/knowledge, abandoned spaces, squanders resources - promises of individual ownership - security: i am guaranteed access to an item in working condition - promises of collective stewardship - security: focus on caring for redundant resources allows for more resilient access to items in well maintained conditions - access to more things you wouldn't otherwise own individually - reduced burden of ownership #### Mindset - scarcity mindset: scarcity mindset often creates scarcity through hoarding and underutilization - abundance through stewardship mindset: can generate actual abundance through better resource use and shared care - in indigenous communities the natural impulse to accumulate gets channeled into communal gathering rather than hording #### Success reimagining success not as how much we can accumulate, but how well we can care for and share what we have. | domain | ownership success | stewardship success | | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | housing | building a large personal real estate portfolio | creating well-maintained community housing where many can live affordably | | knowledge | having exclusive expertise that others must pay to access | building accessible educational resources that empower many to learn | | tools/equipment | having a complete personal collection of rarely-used tools | maintaining a tool library where the community has reliable access to well-cared-for equipment | ## Claude Reformatting - **prompt**: reorganize these thoughts to better explain the concepts to the average american ### From "Mine" to "Ours": A New Way to Think About Stuff Think about that moment when kids clutch their toys, refusing to share. We've all been there - wanting to own things because we're worried there won't be enough to go around. But what if there's a better way? #### The Hidden Costs of Owning Too Much Everything we own demands something from us: - Time to maintain it - Money to repair it - Space to store it - Mental energy to keep track of it Remember that puppy everyone wants at Christmas? It's cute to own one, but the real work is in the daily care and responsibility. This gap between wanting to own something and being ready to care for it shows up everywhere in our lives. #### A Different Approach: Care Over Ownership Instead of asking "How can I own this?", what if we asked "How can we best care for this?" Consider these real-world examples: - Museum curators don't own the art they protect - they preserve it for everyone to enjoy - Indigenous peoples traditionally didn't "own" land - they were its guardians, protecting it for future generations - Modern tool libraries let an entire community access well-maintained equipment instead of everyone buying their own rarely-used tools #### From Scarcity to Abundance When we hoard things because we're scared there won't be enough, we often create the very scarcity we fear. Think about: - A garage full of tools that sit unused while neighbors need them - Empty vacation homes while housing is unaffordable - Expert knowledge locked behind paywalls instead of being shared But when we focus on caring for and sharing resources, we can create real abundance. Imagine: - Community housing where many can live affordably - Open educational resources that help everyone learn - Shared equipment libraries where everyone has access to well-maintained tools #### Redefining Success Success doesn't have to mean having the biggest house or the most toys. It could mean being the best caretaker of shared resources that benefit everyone. This isn't just idealistic thinking - it's a practical way to have access to more while owning less. When we shift from "mine" to "ours," we don't just reduce waste and overconsumption - we build stronger communities and ensure everyone has access to what they need. That's real abundance. ## o1 Rather than each person trying to buy extra homes or bigger places than they need, we could invest in well-maintained, shared housing solutions. This makes housing more affordable, reduces empty homes, and strengthens community ties.