Memories and thoughts age, just as people do. But certain thoughts can never age, and certain memories can never fade. Haruki Murakami Let me tell you, it is SO easy to plop down on the couch after a long day at work and mindlessly binge Netflix until you fall asleep. In fact, the average person spends at least three hours a day watching TV! (Ouch!) I am happiest sitting against a tree, with my notebook or sketchpad on my knee, capturing the moment.” – Fennel Hudson•

Are you someone who’s focused on things like big houses, fancy cars, clothes, jewelry, and more? It’s nice to have those things, but what happens when you’re going through a difficult time in your life and you have to sell them? If your life is based on things, you’ll be crushed if you lose them.The more we experience the world, increasingly present to those around us, the more we learn how connected we all are. We grow in patience and understanding of others. We grow in empathy as we realize everyone is fighting some type of (often unseen) battle.

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” – Aaron Siskind•

2. You will remember experiences forever

Be Mindful of Your Impact: When you travel, be mindful of your impact on the environment and the local community. Respect local customs and traditions, and contribute positively to the places you visit. We realised we didn’t need all of the stuff that we had before and vowed to collect memories not things. Notice that “I wish I would have accumulated more stuff,” or “I wish I would have lived with newer, bigger, and trendier possessions,” didn’t make the list. Maybe there’s a designer handbag or watch you’ve been dying to have. But did you ever stop to think how many lookalike versions there are? It sounds ironic — the idea that happiness fades away with items that last forever and lasts forever with experiences that fleet. But the research doesn’t lie. Even if you spend more time using a material item than you do an experience, the experience leads to more happiness.