‘Our experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than our material goods. You can really like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is connected to those things, but nonetheless they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are part of you. We are the sum total of our experiences.’

Cornell University Psychologist, Dr Thomas Gilovich, has studied how experiences have a longer lasting cognitive benefit than the happiness that comes from material goods. The primary reason for this is that experiences bind us to other people, even if it was an unpleasant experience, particularly if we have a chance to debrief with others.

Source: Fast Company.