My youngest son is graduating from college this week. Weāll be attending the event and celebrating with him this weekend.
We thought long and hard about his gift. When our children graduated from high school and were heading off to college, we got them MacBooksāsomething practical and useful for students!
Weāre not big fans of materialism, adding clutter to our home, or wasting money on fads, fashion, and foolishness. Thatās one reason we often purchase experiences for each other. For example, weāve gifted ski passes, airline tickets, vacations, and various small adventures. Now that we have an empty nest, we love scheduling family vacations together.
Weāve also gifted food and money and forgiven personal loans. But these seem kind of impersonal for something like graduating from college. So, we finally came up with something better.
Hmmmā¦
I just realized that I canāt really say what the gift is since my son might read this newsletter. š Iāll have to save it for a surprise.
Instead, Iāll share a memory from my younger years.
My birthday was pretty close to the date that I went off to college, so my parents got me a mix of gifts for both. Some didnāt age well over the years (e.g., a portable black-and-white television). But one gift lasted decades and has traveled the world with me ever since that day.
They got me a nice leather duffle bag. Apparently, this thing is made well! Iāve used it to pack for trips and fly all over the world. Sometimes I take it as a carryon, but Iāve checked it, too. Itās still holding up!
Every time I pack this bag, I think of my parents, and I remember that day. It always puts a smile on my face. When Iām traveling the world with the bag they gave me, I feel like they are with me in spirit.
I know. Iām a sentimental old fool. But it made me realize that a gift can mean so much more than āa gift.ā
So, the next time youāre thinking about a gift for a loved one, consider the experiences and memories you could create for a lifetime. Most of us donāt need more material possessions. But we do need more happy, warm memories that make us smile as we grow older.
Iām Larry Cornett, aĀ Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you become a more "Invincible You" so you can live your life on your terms instead of being controlled by someone else's rules. I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.