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Experiences or possessions? The answer is easy
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Published: May 3, 2009
Recently, someone asked me, "What's your most cherished possession?"
After some thought, I replied, "my children," but in a split-second I realized how foolish that answer was.
I don't own my children, never have, never will, nor do you own yours. They are blessings for us to raise and then set free to create a life of their own.
So I changed the answer to "my experiences," not just those with my sons, but throughout my entire life.
Think about it. Your experiences — both good and bad — have made you who you are today.
They color your world, shape your attitude and mold your perspective on life.
When Abraham Lincoln quipped, "Every man over 40 is responsible for his face," he was saying that your physical appearance reflects what you have done and how you have lived.
Feeling Alive
San Francisco State University did a study to answer this question: What makes people happier — experiences or possessions? What would you say?
The study found experiences the winner.
The excitement of a possession fades over time, but whenever we recall an experience, even years afterward, we feel the happiness in remembering that wonderful moment.
The study's leader, Ryan Howell, noted the "reason for increased happiness is that people felt a greater sense of vitality or 'being alive' during the experience and the reflection."
Are You Rich?
You know my next question: What kind of experiences have you had?
Have you tried new things, pursued your interests, sampled new dishes, seen new places, met new people or dared to do something you've always secretly wanted to do?
Life is not a dress rehearsal. Jean-Jacques Rousseau knew this well.
He said, "The person who has lived the most is not the one who has lived the longest, but the one with the richest experiences."
Not Just the Good
Not all of your experiences will be pleasant. In fact, our greatest moments of growth come from times of adversity.
We mistakenly define a normal life as one without pain, trouble, challenge or hardship, when, in truth, that makes for a very shallow existence. A balanced life is the best life.
"If there were no tribulation, there would be no rest; if there were no winter, there would be no summer," observed St. John Chrysostom.
Never Stop Living
Nobel Prize-winning scientist Rita Montalcini just turned 100, and she observed, "At 100, I have a mind that is superior — thanks to experience — than I did when I was 20."
What will it take for you to get off the couch, turn off the TV and break out of your routine?
Can you make a goal of having one new experience a week, or at least once a month?
A life devoid of new experiences is a life grinding to a halt, a mindless marching in place. Your energy wanes, and each day is a carbon copy of the one before.
Italian poet Cesare Pavese advised, "We don't remember days; we remember moments."
How extensive is your life's collection special moments?
Never stop making new ones, and you'll live more fully than you've ever dreamed possible.
Jeff Corbett has done public speaking across the Southeast for many years. He lives in Statesville and can be reached at jeff@speak-well.com.
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