The gift of an experience is one which a memory of an event is recorded in the subconscious and linked to a feeling. This may have been a good memory or bad, needless to say we’ve all had times in life when something happened and we never forgot how we felt the day an event was presented. Gifts come in many shapes an forms, the gift of you, expertise, time, are all as good as wrapping up a box. In other words non material things. Some folks like the unknown of opening a wrapped present, yet others are as happy with your help!
Material presents could be, a new pair of jeans, computer, iPad, iPhone, shoes, tools, furniture, wallet, gloves, hat,etc…etc…Gifts such as these will last for as long as the product life which could be a few months to many years. Each time you put on that pair of gloves you remember when you received them-aunt Mary put a lot of thought into buying those gloves! Same is true for that new piece of furniture you use every day. However when those gloves wear out or that piece of furniture does not go with your new surroundings it’s removed or replaced, often times so is the memory.
Gifts of an experience are much different. They can be, going to a concert, movie, horseback riding, ice skating lessons, or going to the museum, are just a few. Remember when you were younger and your teacher was telling you to write your name over and over again? Remember how silly it seemed? Yet we all can go back in time and remember it as it was yesterday.
When I was a boy my family would all get together over the summer at a cottage on a lake in Maine, we would spend time swimming, boating, fishing or just hang out on the beach, it was an amazing time in life. Both of my uncles were there one loved to put around fixing things and the other enjoyed reading and playing golf, always working to improve his game. My cousin and I were always building roads in the sand and trying to figure out how to keep the roads from getting destroyed when it rained.
Mom like to hang in doors, cooking and keeping us all fed. Dad would take us out in the boat so we could catch that next”big one” life was simple yet very memorable. I am so blessed to have had that time with my family. As years went on we all got older and did not get together as much, seemed like there was always a sports event or some other distraction which prevented us from getting together during the summer. Holidays were the only time we’d see each other, after a couple of more years someone moved out of state and we hardly got together much after that.
Today we connect with a call, although we’re not able to always get together we still communicate, from time to time reflect on all those amazing years we spent by the lake. Experiences can be lived over and over again, all that’s required is to reflect, the world is changing almost daily so we must adapt, however if you and I are to live an exceptional life we must make every day one of amazing experiences and lead those we come in contact with, teach them to slow down and see all that which the world has to offer. There’s always going to be storms on each horizon that’s part of life, but storms and before long the sun always returns.
Let tomorrow be your sunshine, show others the gift of an experience!
~Stay Strong~
Did this help you? If so I would greatly appreciate it if you commented below and shared on Facebook.
~Steven~
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