How many times in your life have you felt excited as you anticipated the arrival of a Christmas or birthday gift? Do you remember how thrilling it was to grasp that brand new iPhone or laptop computer? You may not remember much, because those feelings are always fleeting. 

As you gain new material possessions you soon adapt to them, and they become ordinary objects that are a regular part of your environment. Compare this to the stark contrast of every new experience you have with the people you’re connected to. 

Do you remember when you purchased new camping supplies or the time you went camping and hiked with your kids to an amazing waterfall that everyone stood beneath? Do you remember how much you paid for those rock concert tickets or how exhilarating it was to sing and dance your way through the concert with a best friend? The tickets were lifeless pieces of paper that couldn’t be changed. However, the concert you attended gave you the opportunity to create new moments and lasting memories.

“I took a cake decorating class from Orson Gygi,” said Bountiful resident Linda Marelli. “We made a multi-layered chocolate cake and did all the fancy decorations. I had so much fun and shared my results with my teen granddaughters. They both love to bake and were excited when they saw it. 

“I treated them both to new decorating tools, and they both made their own fancy cakes. They even baked them for some family birthdays. Their friends were amazed by these creations and it was a great way for me to connect with my granddaughters and have a ball doing it.”

The fortunate news is that things cost money whereas experiences don’t have to. Who remembers watching fireworks on the fourth of July or singing silly songs and performing made-up skits around a campfire? The way you felt during these moments and how you bonded with your friends and family members are your treasures for life. Certain iconic moments such as the first time you held your baby or watching your son score a winning touchdown will be moments imprinted on your mind and heart always.

“When my kids were little, I bought them a big play system for the backyard,” said Hanneke Leonard of Bountiful. “We would spend every spring, summer and fall in the backyard. I would have several splash pools set up for everyone to keep cool in, and we’d use water pistols and balloons. We created fun memories without going other places on vacation.”

Experiences are full of surprises. You never know exactly how they might go. Say your friends kidnapped you on your 16th birthday and policemen stopped to ask why your head was covered with a blanket while being shoved into the backseat of a car? Whether you explained the situation or ended up at a police station could not have been predicted. 

How many times have you made comparisons between gifts you received and those your friends did? The things you obtained could always be compared, whereas experiences cannot. They are all quite unique from each other even if they were had in the same places. Your new game system can break, but a memory, though possibly faded, cannot.

Your deepest needs for love and connection are filled through the people you know and experiences you choose to create. The most expensive toys and gadgets you can buy will always be temporary and meaningless by comparison.

If you’re ever tempted to think that just one or two more items will be your ticket to happiness, remember that you are really the sum of the thousands of daily experiences you plan and create for yourself each new day.