3547: Experiences, Not Things by Ali Cornish with Everthrive on Personal Growth and Lasting Happiness

[00:00:00] It's a Minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily. Experiences, Not Things by Ali Cornish of Everthrive.org And your narrator Justin Malik reading you articles every day of the year. So with that let's get right to it as we optimize your life. Experiences, Not Things by Ali Cornish of Everthrive.org

[00:00:25] My husband Josh and I greatly value vacationing together. Through shared appreciation for destinations different than the norm, we've grown closer to each other. We've tested our limits and affirmed our partnership by tackling and overcoming obstacles in places both familiar and strange. As a result of planning for travel and sharing adventures off the beaten path, we've also made a lot of amazing memories.

[00:00:48] Never once on our journeys did we purchase a souvenir and never once have we regretted it. In place of trinkets, we create memories that last much longer. In fact, we find so much happiness and importance in experiences that we rarely give each other traditional gifts. As it turns out, considerable research has been done in support of our conclusions. What follows is five reasons why it is important for personal and relational growth to invest in experiences, not things.

[00:01:17] Number one, experiences last longer in our memories than material items do. In contrast, memories, even the bad ones, become sweeter with time. These memories might fade, but the emotion and sentiment from the imprinted experience becomes a part of us. The result is a ripple effect. The experience expands our lives, builds on who we are, thereby making us more complete people.

[00:01:42] Our experiences not only become a part of us, they also connect us to others with whom we share experiences. We could try our hardest, but material things, even our mobile devices, cannot become part of us. We are the sum of our experiences, not our things. Number two, since they enhance our character, experiences are a better personal investment than things. Enhancing character is something seldom added to our daily to-do lists,

[00:02:09] but character is important to think about, especially when you're building a personal relationship. Experiences help us to reinforce and model good character for one another. Experiences also give us defining moments, moments we can forever characterize ourselves by making us into better people. Number three, experiences are worth the wait. We plan for travel months in advance. As a result, we eagerly look forward to the moment of our departure, much like school children do when anticipating summer break.

[00:02:38] The work we do in planning, from booking the tickets and the rental car, to reserving rooms, tables, or activities, is totally worth it because it improves our experience. We might brave hours of airport waiting, security checks, and baggage holdups, but overcoming all of that will make the trip even more satisfying. Number four, conversely, I can't think of an instance where someone plans a trivial material purchase months in advance. Of course, we should carefully plan the serious purchase of a home,

[00:03:07] since things like homes will increase our quality of life for the long term. But would you really want to deal with a long-term hassle for a short-term product? Take a look at grocery store checkout lines on a holiday weekend, or crowds in Walmart on Black Friday. Waiting in line to buy things brings a lot of discomfort, impatience, and anxiety. Personally, I would much rather wait in line for experiential purchases than a minor material purchase.

[00:03:32] Number five, more often than not, the material things we buy go out of style or become obsolete. When we purchase something new, we appreciate it and may think we love it. To us, the new thing is fresh and attractive, and mood-lifting endorphins flood our minds due to the act of purchasing. But we get used to the once new objects. We adapt, and that things become boring and forgetful. Think back to something you bought five or ten years ago.

[00:03:58] How many items that you bought during that time are still relevant to your life? Chances are that the items were forgotten, went out of style, or were replaced by a newer model. Memories can also be forgotten or replaced, but the original still remain part of us. Like I mentioned in point number one, experiences shape us into who we are, and the ensuing memories become the building blocks of our individuality. If we invest in creating quality memories with one another, we will have happiness for the long term.

[00:04:28] Sometimes our experiences don't seem so good at the time, like when Josh and I got the camper stuck in a volcanic sand trap while we were searching for a campsite in Iceland. We were really tired, hungry, and were starting to get short with each other, and then we got stuck in what we thought was an impossible situation. Miraculously, we were not only able to trial and error our way out of that hole, but we also endured another hour of hunting for a camping spot. In hindsight, we were able to recall that evening with pride.

[00:04:55] We overcame several obstacles together and are better for it. We saw how we both handled the stressful situation, and the result made us even more connected as a couple by increasing the respect we have for one another. Conquering tricky situations paves the way for potential opportunities to become better people, and becoming better people is the best gift of all. Josh and I are definitely not the first to discover the benefits of seeking unique opportunities to make memories together.

[00:05:21] What we have discovered are the tangible benefits of seeking out experiences instead of material things. You just listened to the post titled, Experiences, Not Things, by Allie Cornish of everthrive.org, and I'll be right back with my commentary. You know what I love about optimizing my day? Finding snacks that work as hard as I do. And that's why I love Wonderful Pistachios. It's become my go-to snack lately.

[00:05:50] Wonderful Pistachios is one of the highest protein nuts. Each one-ounce serving has six grams of protein, giving you over 10% of your daily value. I love that Wonderful Pistachios is a complete protein, providing all nine essential amino acids. That satisfying crack of opening each shell is like a snack meditation for me. If you're always on the move, their no-shells options are perfect on the go. I'm really loving Wonderful Pistachios no-shells unsalted.

[00:06:18] It holds the salt, but not the flavor, in a snack that packs a protein punch. Pistachios are known for their protein power, fiber, and better-for-you unsaturated fats for a combination that may help keep you feeling fuller longer. Whether you're running between meetings or optimizing your day, get snackin' and get crackin' with Wonderful Pistachios. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more. Thank you to Ali.

[00:06:45] Finally, something I remember reading is that the actual planning of experiences themselves is often just as enjoyable or leads to just as much happiness as doing the experience itself. I don't remember where I heard that, and I can't say with certainty that it's for sure 100% true, with everyone at least. But it stuck with me because I do find that to be the case in my own life most of the time. If you add that up, the planning time plus the experience,

[00:07:12] it's a great investment towards a happier life, I think. It's a good point that experiences become part of who we are. Possessions? Not so much. They come and go. But the experiences? They last a lifetime. Those are the stories we retell over and over again. Compared to that new pair of shoes we bought years ago, unless there was something really funny or interesting that happened when we bought those shoes, in that case, it's more about the experience anyway.

[00:07:42] I think we know this already, but I find it helpful to have that reminder. The more I get these reminders, I feel like the more likely I am to make a better decision. Hopefully that's the case for you too. And with that, thank you for being here and growing along with me. This is an experience in itself, and I really hope it's adding value to your life. Have a great rest of your day, and I'll see you tomorrow as usual, where your optimal life awaits.