Collect Moments, Not Things

Sitting in the back of my husband-then-boyfriend’s pickup truck, in a parking lot on the Northern California coast after a day of driving up and back down the Pacific Coast Highway, watching the sun set. His arm around my shoulders, I didn’t care that I was freezing.

I’ve had many amazing memories with him over the last two and half years. But this one is a highlight.

As much as appreciate everything he’s given me, I treasure the memories so much more. Even if I woke up one day and all the physical things around me were gone, that wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen to me, because I would still have the people around me, and the memories I’ve collected in the time I’ve spent with them. Not to say that there aren’t mementos to help you remember good times, but the physical thing isn’t the important part. What matters is the memory it reminds you of.

Like I said in my post last week, I used to cling to things like they defined me. But they don’t. What makes up who I am is first and foremost who God made me to be and is shaping me into, and second, the people around me and the experiences I have and the memories I have of those experiences.

I would much rather spend money on taking a trip with my husband or my friends, whether that’s across the country or across the state, and making memories and enriching those relationships, than the newest and best thing – whatever it might be.

But it doesn’t have to be a trip, if that’s not your cup of tea. Maybe your experience is being able to go out for a nice dinner with your significant other, taking your kids to Disneyland, or going to Hawaii. I want to go to Ireland, Scotland, France, and England someday. I don’t know what your ideal experiences are, but start thinking in those terms – not getting that shirt, or that new tv, but putting the money in a savings fund to be able to do the things you want with the people you love. While not having the stress of excess physical things weighing you down as you go.

Making memories with those you love – and making the memories that you want to make, whatever they might be.

Your experiences don’t have to be big things, either. It can be as simple – yet as big – as being able to stay home with your kids full time rather than needing to go to work because you don’t need to pay for extra storage space – whatever that storage looks like – or having a garage sale or selling things online to make some money that you can tuck away for your emergency fund, or towards the next experience you want to have.

The little moments are what matter the most, in the end. The memories you have, not the things you possess.

I never want to be so wrapped up in my possessions, or the things that I want to possess, that I miss out on the little moments that are happening around me. I never want to be so preoccupied in gaining things that it becomes more important than the people I love.

I want to live my life with my head up, my gaze on the people and the scenery around me, not down on the things around me.