Have

Having roaming around the globe like a cunning and cunning beast. Virtually undisturbed, it does not care about borders or fears the change of habitats, food regimes and cultures. If words were animals, we would be in the presence of one of the most adaptable. The verb to have takes everything, with a nature faithful to the etymology: its origin in fact dates back to ancient Indo-European, with the meaning of to take: not to then distribute, but to hold. Furthermore, this type of word turns out to be particularly insidious because it practically it is everywhere, but at the same time you can't observe. It is invisible, like the atmosphere. And here the comparison must be changed. The condition of owning things is the one in which millions of people find themselves, not already just born, like the air, but a little at a time. Until... have, what? this, that, and this again; indeed, having without even needing to detail what: well, this appears to be a question of vital importance. But it is a divisive condition. Only with a revolution does one go from taking to holding back to discovering that one can offer; to let go. It is difficult to think of your life without having, and difficult to list all the things you have. However is interesting to try, and find yourself looking at your toothbrush, my dog, the family I have with different eyes.

Fabio Arduini
NP April 2024