Would you choose a product or an experience?

UAE's influencers voice their opinions

In our times, we're constantly fed the idea that in order to be happy, we need to buy more things; whether it's to fill up our closets, kitchens, living rooms. Before I began travelling, I was a shopaholic and like many people, I was addicted to buying new clothes. Then, I began to realise that what I'd spend on a shopping binge over one weekend could buy me a plane ticket to Iceland where I could hike on a glacier or a trip to Italy where I could eat my weight in pasta and gelato, or a journey to New Zealand where I could paraglide over beautiful lakes. These were all experiences that added far more value to my life than a sparkly new dress or another pair of shoes I didn't need.
When it comes to material possessions, whether it's the latest smartphone or a sleek sports car, we're never completely satisfied. The yearning for the upgraded version or the fancier model, so that we can keep up appearances, is undeniable. On the other hand, experiences, whether they're about travel, having an adventure, learning a language or taking up a personal project, bring you the kind of happiness and contentment that have infinite value and no expiration date. After chasing experiences around the world, I truly believe that they help people become the best versions of themselves. This is why I often gift experiences to my loved ones, depending on their interests, instead of things.
Finally, I always choose experiences over things because it's the only way I know I won't end up with regrets. Life is short and there's absolutely no time to waste chasing things that add to the clutter and noise. I find it hard to imagine someone, at the end of their life, brooding over that dress or latest gadget they didn't buy; it's more likely that they'd regret something they always wanted to but didn't get to. Whether it was admiring the Northern Lights in Iceland, learning how to make pasta in Bologna, or celebrating spring with a hundred locals at a community meal in Palafrugell, Spain, I'm grateful for moments when it feels like I'm living the width of my life, not just the length of it. And that feeling is priceless.
(Natasha Amar is the travel blogger behind www.thebohochica.com. Keep up with her adventures on Facebook & Instagram @thebohochica, and on Twitter @The_BohoChica)
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What is an experience? It is an encounter that leaves an impression. And what makes an experience so great? It's the memories. Maybe it's just me, but I have a very questionable memory - and science (and psychology) says that we change a memory every time we recall it. So, are experiences still a greater treasure?
While I'm not exactly like Rebecca Bloomwood from Confessions of a Shopaholic, hoarding unopened things (I repeat, not exactly), I do tend to fall in love with things. For a really long time, if I even looked at a beautiful leather bag with a big price tag longingly, I felt bad for feeling materialistic. But the truth of the matter is that things can make you happy too, for myriad reasons, that have nothing to do with being materialistic. Perhaps it's the thrill of buying something special that I have painstakingly saved up for, or a product that
reminds me of my own achievements.
I could have gone to a fine dining restaurant and easily spent the amount there, but unlike that quick delectable experience (the memory of which is altered by the next week), the product stays much longer.
My mom collects a lot of things and has a lot of experiences. But, if you ask her about her most treasured item, it would be my grandma's old earrings, these beautiful blue jhumkis from when my grandma was little. Every time she wears them, she has an extra skip in her step, because it makes her feel closer to her mum and because she looks good in them. Ultimately, whether it's the memories of her mother or the beauty of the jewellery, it makes her happy.
Sometimes, things and experiences can even go hand in hand! Whether they are souvenirs from travel, your childhood home or a little bouquet of fresh flowers, things can remind you of a special experience. They don't need to be expensive either - a seashell from a beach can be just as precious as a Givenchy lipstick. Sometimes you need things to help jolt your memory and make you remember good times.
In the end, it is up to you to decide what makes you happy - experience of the things or the things from the experience.
(Swati Jain is a PR professional who likes to dream and write about travel on www.swatiness.com. You can follow her at @swatsiie on Instagram)