Giving “experiences” instead of things has become a normal part of conversation. I hear about it from blogs, books, and family personal stories. It makes sense, and I often think about it around Christmas and other times of the year.
I recently read The Myths of Happiness: What Should Make You Happy, but Doesn’t, What Shouldn’t Make You Happy, but Does by Sonja Lyubomirsky. Here are three reasons that the author believes experience trump possessions:
Experiences Are Less Likely To Be Compared
Unlike possessions, which tend to bring discontent when new and better versions become available, experiences are personal and hard to compare. Even when friends or family members have grander experiences, they don’t seem to take away the enthusiasm for our own. The person seated in the back row of a concert can love it as much as the guy in the eighth row. There’s no comparison because each person has a great experience. You enjoy bowling with friends the same week your neighbors are on a cruise, and there’s no sense of missing out. It’s your experience.
Experiences Grow In Memories
We adapt quickly to new possessions and become numb to them. However, experiences allow us to relive them through stories and memories. Stories and memories typically outgrow the actual experience, overcoming the small, stressful details of the experience so that we remember only the good.
Memories about experiences far outweigh memories of buying things. Thinking about things we have purchased and no longer have or need often brings up bad memories.
Experiences Can Be Accomplished With Less Money
You don’t need a lot of money to have great experiences. For a couple of years, my wife and I sat down before Christmas and created the Adventures Box for our family, one of our kids’ Christmas presents to open (though they had to wait to open each envelope over the year). Some plans had to change, but the overall sense was neat. Some envelopes included bigger trips, but others were simple. Surprisingly, the hikes and movie marathons were received with as much excitement as Grand Canyon-type adventures. Creating great experiences doesn’t take much money, which is one of the great benefits.
At Christmas, think about giving experiences.
And by the way, I highly recommend this book.
