Make your Twenties about Experiences, Not ‘Stuff’

In his innocent and carefree life, my little hero of a robot, Wall-E, certainly hoarded a lot of gadgets, gizmos, and toys in his habitat on a barren Earth. And maybe some of those things added value to the curious robot’s life. But I came across an article on The Simple Dollar today that offered a good lesson for those of us trying to find purpose and a much more meaningful life in our twenties by spending money and time wisely. Trent Hamm writes:

I could have stepped back, looked at my life, and realized that the stuff wasn’t fulfilling me. I was seeking experiences and a deeper understanding of who I am and what really mattered to me. More stuff didn’t do that at all.

Let’s see if I can clear it up. Watching a film is an experience. Owning a DVD is accumulation of stuff. Going to a concert is an experience. Owning a pile of CDs is accumulation of stuff. Playing through a great video game is an experience. Accumulating a big pile of such games is just stuff. Traveling to rural France is an experience. Buying $500 worth of French cookware that you’ll barely use is accumulation of stuff.

The solution is simple, especially when you’re young and have the freedom and energy to easily go out and explore the world: load up your twenties with experiences, not stuff. Explore the world and figure out who you are and what you want from life. Minimize the items you have, maximize your experiences, and do it without sacrificing your future.

When Wall-E fell in love with Eve and chased her into outer space, you  didn’t just see his charming innocence brought out by his fascination with junk, gadgets and toys. He takes a chance and follows his heart, and the fullness of his character comes through as he pursues Eve, longing to recreate the romantic feelings instilled in him by watching his copy of Hello Dolly.

I’m not saying you should ditch the Rubik’s cube, iPod and the paddle ball and take a ride into space like he did. But eliminating some unnecessary stuff, making better decisions, and placing value on experience over your things can make an impact, especially while your young.

Buying Experiences in Your Twenties [via The Simple Dollar].

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