The Flaw in the Shift From Stuff to Experiences
I don't know if you've noticed but it seems that over the past number of years, there has been a shift in the way people are encouraged to spend their money.
I would say it's an intentional shift away from buying things, to buying experiences. The argument is, the value of experiences outweighs the value of stuff, that wears out, and ends up in a garage sale or waste collection site.
There was a popular commercial a few years back that supported this mindset shift, put out by Expedia, the online travel site where you can purchase flights and vacation packages all over the world.
The ad made a statement that "You might not look back and wish you had bought a better car, but would regret not going to the places you've always wanted to go." (or something like that)
Basically they were saying that memories from travel are more valuable than material things. Hey, as a guy who leans toward being a minimalist, and hates clutter, I appreciate the sentiment.
And it was a genius marketing strategy.
And I'm all for taking a vacation and creating memories in the process. We planned for over a year, this past summer's family vacation. It was the first time all of us, kids, spouses and grandchildren were all together. And it was a wonderful week with lots of memories created, that we will treasure going forward.
But my concern in this shift toward experiences over stuff, is that we put so much emphasis on experiences, that we place too much pressure on these events to create meaning in our lives.
What if one of life's greatest illusions is that meaning is found in the highlights?
We can spend so much time, money and energy chasing the experiences (highlights) that we devalue what is right in front of us...our day-to-day lives.
The moments...the vacations, the weddings, the birth of child...are wonderful. But they aren't the point...they only lead to what's even more important.
Vacations are great, but what about your family life?
A wedding is wonderful point in time, but what matters more is your marriage.
A birth is incredibly special, but it pales in comparison to raising a family.
Weddings, births and vacations are doorways to something better, not endpoints in and of themselves.
I turn 60 next month, and while it's fine to mark the day, even celebrate it, what matters more is how I live my life, doesn't it?
For me, I want to find meaning in the day-to-day. The daily, regular or even routine.
Consider these:
- Family meals
- Date night
- Saving money
- Work that matters to you
- Conversations with a close friend
- Exercise
- Spiritual disciplines like prayer and meditation
- Walking
- Meal prep
- Proper sleep
- Participating in a faith community
- Time devoted to your favourite hobbies
- Visiting your favourite cafe (where I write this weekly blog)
- Morning routine
- Reading an inspirational book
Q. What would you add to this list?
If you want to find meaning in your life, then I suggest you focus on creating a life of meaning, and let the experiences be an expression of a meaningful life, not the sum total of it.
Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple, must deny themselves, and take up their cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23
If we truly want to live a meaningful life, then we should follow Jesus's words that suggest the meaning is in the daily, consistent pursuit of following Him, over a lifetime.
The highlights of life...the weddings, births and vacations...are great.
But they should reflect a meaningful life, not be the source of it.
Maybe we should put more time, money and energy into a life we don't need a vacation from?
What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time - Dan