Are you collecting things or are you collecting experiences?

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Smith on October 12, 2009 at 3:39am

I love collecting Christmaas ornaments. I used to travel as a educational trainer and have an ornament for each place I did in presentation. It is fun to look back on where I have been.

Healthy Mom said:

I think we are collecting experience. I know even my daughter feels that way. She collects christmas ornaments from all the places we travel. She keeps them a tree in her room we call the traveling tree. She likes to show her friends the ornaments and tell them a story of the travels. They remind her of all of our great family time. someone told me recently " today is the present, yesterday was the past, tomorrow is the future. But the present means today and it also means gift. So Today is a gift." Enjoy your gift today.

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Permalink Reply by Robin G. on October 12, 2009 at 6:09am

I would have to say that it was things, that I collected in the past. Since having my daughter, my antiques collection, doesn't have the same appeal. I'm too busy collecting experiences with her.

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Permalink Reply by Veera Hiranandani on October 12, 2009 at 7:11am

Thanks, you've set me straight. I agree that a "home-grown" party creates the best memories if it's done out of love.

Grace E. Mauzy said:

I do understand how you feel. There is such pressure to buy all this stuff to make a great birthday. But you really can have a great birthday without having to buy everything. My four kids range in age from 9 to 25 and we never went all out for birthdays. I would think of ten old fashioned games, invite a bunch of kids, have basic snacks with cake and ice cream- And we reused the decorations for YEARS!

The kids, and now young adults, always talk about the fantastic birthday parties. They talk about how those parties are the ones they really remember. So go for the experience. And don't worry about comparing yourself to others. Give what you alone have best to give. Your love and your heart for your kids.

PS You will be UTTERLY exhausted when you're done. That's certainly a memory to cherish :)

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Permalink Reply by Anita on October 12, 2009 at 7:18am

It's funny you should ask this at this point in my life. I am currently selling off all that I own and we are moving to South Africa for the better part of next year. When we finally make it back to the states, we're not sure where we're going to end up, so we don't want a lot of things weighing us down. So my answer is a definite-we are collecting experiences!

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Permalink Reply by overthetopaprons on October 12, 2009 at 7:20am

Megan, very good question .... at this point in my life - I am going for experience and getting rid of 'things'.

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Permalink Reply by neatnixorganizers on October 12, 2009 at 11:23am

At our company Neatnix Organizing Solutions (www.neatnix.com), our experience is that most people collect regardless. In the best circumstances, people collect things that are attached to wonderful experiences. As they move on, some of those experiences become less relevant and less necessary, which becomes the weeding time. The key is the ability to honestly and thoughtfully weed when the time comes. Some weeds become flowers and some flowers become weeds.

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Permalink Reply by Kristin Walters on October 12, 2009 at 12:38pm

Definitely aiming to collect experiences - while my computer hard drive collects the photos!

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Permalink Reply by Pamela M. Kramer on October 12, 2009 at 12:45pm

Experiences for sure!

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Permalink Reply by Queen Bee on October 12, 2009 at 4:43pm

I have always had fun in my younger years, collecting.
I finally found out that from experiences ,that you have to part with some of it.
So I am cleaning out, it makes people happy to give them something that you have had so long.
Even if it isn't a high cost item.So I will never collect again and fill up my Home.I want to have a home with plenty space.


(So I guess I will collect memories from now on, The memory of the smile on my family and friends faces when they say thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Ann on October 12, 2009 at 4:57pm

We try to stay more with experiences, making the most of every possible moment.

It just amazes me, that these are the days that my kids will end up remembering and how different their recollections are so much different than mine, or even what I had in mind (on vacation with them, all of these cool things we did...and they remember seeing a decapitated squirrel...I allowed them to collect that memory, not that "thing." lol)

I think having kids makes me want to experience more and build the actual memories, not just collections.

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Permalink Reply by Beth Taylor on October 12, 2009 at 5:18pm

Without a doubt, experiences. I am pleased to say that we have lived in Europe, been through downsizing, teen drug dependency, more travel, surrogate pregnancy (the twin living in England are now ten!) and so much more. Love the photos that act as the reminders of who,what where when and why. No pics of the drug addled son, but some of the sober, fun guy he has become. They have not always been easy or fun experiences, but life and death is to be celebrated and embraced. Avoid sipping, the big gulp enhances the experience. Great question, that has got to be a pretty smart cafe owner!

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Permalink Reply by Sultan Gonen-Griffin on October 12, 2009 at 5:53pm

I think we are going to remain in our townhouse, forego the luxury single home with an amazing kitchen & commit to many moments cooking in my kid sized kitchen instead (with my girls). Traveling is such an incredibly educational, and self forming experience; I simply can not compromise opportunities for more things.

What motivates me? Time, & multi-dimensional perspectives from intelligent moms.

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