The Paradox of Possession

We call them 'pets' and speak of 'ownership,' yet any honest companion animal guardian knows the truth: the animal possesses something we cannot own—its essential nature, its will, its independence. This paradox delighted Nasreddin Hodja, who often explored the folly of imagining control where none exists. A horse may obey commands while remaining internally free; a parrot may learn words yet choose silence; a cat may share your home while acknowledging no debt. This teaches us something crucial about the examined life: our fantasies of possession and control extend far beyond animals to relationships, achievements, and even our own selves. By living with a companion animal, we practice accepting what cannot be owned or fully known. Hodja's wisdom suggests that this acceptance—this recognition of the boundary between self and other—is itself the deepest freedom. We stop trying to possess and start learning to co-exist, which paradoxically brings more genuine connection than any claim of ownership ever could.