We’ve all heard the maxim, “The best things in life are free.” It’s true. But what about those great things in life that do cost something? I’ve been thinking about, and making a list of, things that don’t cost much, relatively speaking, but give rich experiences. The twist, however, is I wanted to identify that which a billionaire couldn’t necessarily buy a better experience than me. So here goes:
1) Great Books – I can feel the pages now: textured paper brimming with stone-wedged swords, grinning cats, time wrinkles, and precious rings. We dive into black ink, immersed in imagination and hours that flow like minutes, until the real world beckons. Ah, such an irreplaceable experience. True, this could fall into the “free” category if you utilize the public library, but supply doesn’t always meet demand, not to mention how many times I’ve tried to reserve a book only to learn the sole copy is 5 years overdue. Our taxes pay for the library anyway, so not exactly free. And yes, the billionaire may be able to buy that first edition of Oliver Twist, signed by Charles Dickens himself, but do you think he sits in a cozy chair by the fire at night to read it? Absolutely not. If he wants to recapture the magic of the story, he’d probably eyeball the same umpteenth edition we do. Dive into a book.
2) A Roaring Fire – When gold and crimson-laced flames dance above an open hearth or within a ring of stones, something primal emerges. Stare into those hypnotic flames long enough and you might discover something about yourself. Many of us don’t have true fireplaces anymore—just a closed space where gas logs pretend to roar. There’s something sad about that. But with a small investment in camping gear and the right locale, you can build that timeless fire, watch it burn into the night while it casts sparks into rising thermals until they wink out against the starlit backdrop above. Warm your face by the fire.
3) Life’s Soundtrack – How do you feel when your favorite song spills from the radio speakers? Such is the mood-shifting power of music. Want energy and motivation? Want to feel as if nothing can stop you? Create an iTunes playlist with your favorite, upbeat songs. Cruise through the world with your personal soundtrack playing in the background. Most of the time, we need only an hour worth of songs for whatever we’re doing, say ten. Back in my college days—when the only way to get a song I loved was to buy a CD full of accompanying songs I didn’t care about—I had to spend $200 to own ten of my favorite songs. Now I spend less than $10. In these days of music portability, if you spend a little extra for a good headset, rest assured the billionaire doesn’t have it better than you, that is, unless her musical tastes are superior to yours. Just kidding. I think you’re safe since you are the only judge. Fill your world with song.
4) Excellent Movies – I love movies as much as books. My in-home theater system may not be the dedicated room I’ve seen in some houses, complete with megaplex-like seating, but do you know what? It doesn’t matter. If the movie is exceptional, I could view it on a white sheet slung over a clothesline and I’d lose myself within that imaginary world the same as if it played on the best theater system in the world. Lose yourself in a movie.
5) Nostalgic Scents – Newly mown grass; clothes dried by a spring breeze; Thanksgiving turkey. Most of us have experienced it: a pleasing scent from our past whisks us back and we feel grand. For me, that scent is honeysuckle. I remember discovering the flowering vines along a fence at a friend’s house and she showed me how to slip the stem from the petals to reveal the honeysuckle dewdrops. We slid those translucent droplets onto our tongues and devoured them one by one. Playful days and carefree ways. What scent sweeps you back to a pleasant bygone time? If it’s a certain flower, buy them to fill your kitchen with their scent. Or if it’s a difficult fragrance to find, drop into an aroma shop to splurge for an oil extract, one that fuels your reminiscing. Time travel with a favorite scent.
6) The Internet – You may wonder why I include this after my You Can’t Soar from a Prison Cell post? But the internet really is a wonderful thing, if you use its power wisely. You have the same access to a universe of free information as the insanely wealthy of this world. It’s the connection that costs you, unless you’re somehow the recipient of free wi-fi, but it’s costing someone. Explore the world…wide web, that is.
7) A Pet – Even “free” pets cost something after the vet bill. But do you think the billionaire’s pet loves her any more than yours does you? I doubt it. Even if she does leave the fur-ball her estate. Play with your pet.
8) The Right Mattress – This is one of those “relatively speaking” items I mentioned. And I’m stretching it a bit because the super-wealthy can buy a better sleeping experience than most of us, purchasing mattresses that cost upward of $50,000. But know this: depending on your sleeping habits, you’ll spend approximately a third of your life in bed, 25 years if you live to 75. You owe it to yourself to buy the best mattress you can afford. No skimping here. Dream in comfort.
That’s my list…so far. Please leave a comment on anything I’ve left off, some great experience that doesn’t cost much and the super-rich can’t outspend us to make better. If you can’t think of anything, then let me know which items I included are your favorite things to experience. Also, tell us that one thing for you that really is a best free thing in life. I’ll start:
The Sky – If you’ve visited this site before, you know I’m partial to the sky. But I believe many share my fascination with it. I’m comforted every time I cast my eyes upward to it, even if it holds, as Snoopy would say in the opening of his novel, “… a dark and stormy night.” If I ever feel alone in this world, separated from the universe, one look at the sky evaporates that feeling. Wonderful things come from, or appear in, the sky: the sun, rain, snow, stars-stationary and shooting, cool breezes, sunsets, clouds-especially those we project our imagination on to, fireflies, the moon, fireworks, thunderstorms-nature’s fireworks, rainbows, sunbeams, comets, Venus, hot air balloons, butterflies, and planes that defy gravity. Soothe yourself with the sky.
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Chuck,
You are right. The camera is a great one to add. Capturing those memories of experiences that are priceless, are a great way to relive them in the future.
You’ve done it again. WOW !!!
As you know Chris, I have just recently become a reader of your stories. What a ride on the clouds. Or as you say "Lessons from the Cockpit"
Have you ever heard the song by John Denver titled Annie’s Song? You would recognize it by the first line as it starts, "You fill up my senses, like a sleepy blue ocean." Mine are in overload…
Your story has taken me all the way back to when I was a child and brought me through the years to my current age 61 Sent me on into the future with ideas to help me make memories with my new grandson. So many senses have been tapped with your story Life is Rich.
I would like to add another experience, photography. Sure a billionaire may be able to buy a better camera, or travel to more exatic areas, but that is just academic. The magic of the moment is being able to record a memory that takes you back to the time when you were there. Usually it is a place where you were with someone you love and the timing of the moment is what it is all about. Whether your picture is of a friend, family member, a small flower or a great vista, photography brings great joy to the person lucky enough to see that memory through the perspective of a lenes.
Funny story, Bruce. At least you know you can buy cheap mattresses for the rest of your life and put that money toward something else.
Surprisingly, I find I sleep better on the inexpensive mattress. Lucky for me I guess, except that I made the mistake of buying a relatively expensive one (before I knew this about myself). Time to up.. I mean downgrade.
Kim, I like your list and "seeing someone you are helping learn – finally get it" is a great one I haven’t stopped to think about in a long while.
so much has already been rightly said here. i’ll add these –
Free: (meaing money)
the laughtner of my children (no matter how old they get)
seeing someone you are helping learn – finally get it
a walk in the woods
a swim in the sea
reading (or writing) a hand written letter
Value:
like the mattress – a good pillow
driving – road trip
CueZee, I like that quote. Fits perfectly.
@Chris: Yup, financial freedom is the goal that we all should covet and work towards but it should not be the only or ultimate goal in life. As quoted from "How to Get Rich By the Book" by John Beehner, "Success in life is not about acquiring wealth, but becoming rich from the inside out."
PP, glad I hit upon some of your favorites.
DF, good your sons were exploring the cracks in the sidewalk, versus stepping on them. 🙂 Think about it.
Emily, yes, laughter and exercise are great ones.
Yes, Rich, you are life, and rich as well.
Evelyn, I like your father’s saying and will use it sometime in the future with my kids
Karen, good story. You touched upon a future blog post with it. I often ask people what they would do if they suddenly hit it big in terms of whatever they are pursuing. Most of the time, their answers are always things they can do now: reading, gardening, exercising, walking in nature. So it only makes sense, that instead of working more hours to reach some deferred lifestyle that may never come, do those things now with those hours.
DB, I’ll be on the lookout for anyone with ski masks and gloves.
CueZee, I’m all for working toward wealth. Financial freedom–which is relative given an individual’s wants and needs–is something everyone should strive for.
Indeed, life is rich. Riches form part of our lives. However, how rich our lives are eventually depends on the threshold of sufficiency we set for ourselves. It is like having $100,000. Do you think it is sufficient? Or do you think by owning a Porsche and living in a huge mansion then is your life good enough? Well, it all boils down to the individual. Whether one is rich or not is based on the individual’s predetermined standards.
A relationship with God: Free;
Appreciating life’s little things: Free;
Sex: Free (In most cases…Well, in some cases…OK, maybe a bad example);
Starting each week with A Lesson From the Cockpit: PRICELESS!
There are some things in life that money can’t buy for everything else there are gloves and ski masks.
This is a story I had heard and modified to my life that goes along with what you were talking about on this post, Christopher:
An American businessman saw Karen outside with her dog, Sassy, everyday and stopped by to ask if she would be interested in working for him. He said that he saw her everyday with her dog, working in her yard, talking with her neighbors, having coffee outside and thought that her time could be better utilized.
He said, “What do you do for work?”
Karen replied, “I do court research.”
He said, “Why don’t you do more work and get more money?”
Karen said, “I have enough to support my immediate needs.”
He said, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
Karen said, “I sleep as long as I want, eat a good breakfast, enjoy my coffee, play with my dog, have lunch with my friends, go shopping, go to the beach, go to the lake, go boating, go for long walks, go travel when I please and go out to movies. I have a full life, Mr.”
He said, “I have a Harvard MBA and I can help you. You should spend more time with your court work and with your income buy a better house and car. You could grow your business so that you could eventually sell it and make more money that way.”
Karen said, “How long would that take?”
He said, “It could take 5 or 10 years.”
Karen said,” But what then, Mr.”
He laughed and said, “That’s the best part, with the money from the sale of your company, you could make millions.”
Karen said, “Millions, then what, Mr.?”
He said, “Then you would retire, sleep as long as you want, eat a good breakfast, enjoy your coffee, play with your dog, have lunch with your friends, go shopping, go to the beach, go to the lake, go boating, go for long walks, go travel when you please and go to movies.”
I JUST LOOKED AT HIM, SMILED AND SAID, “HOPEFULLY, SOME DAY YOU WILL “GET IT”.
When I was growing up, I can remember my dad saying as we enjoyed some family time on the patio or around a campfire…"I wonder what the rich people are doing today? Nothing as wonderful as we are!" Truly, time spent with those you love is priceless and no amount of money can buy that.
Life is Me? Rich
I like this piece Chris, especially the books and pets. I was thinking also about laughter and exercise, free and fabulous.:) Emily
One of the greatest treats for me when my sons were little was parks! The great outdoors, we could get lost for hours just walking to the park. Each crack in the sidewalk a place to be mined, the activity of bugs, the noises and smells. All of these are free and available to us when we take the time to pause. The billionaire probably feels too compelled to keep generating money!
I’ll probably be thinking on this all day! thank you
Great post! Life IS rich and you’ve brought up some of my absolute favorite things about life in this post: books, music, and dogs. I couldn’t live without them!!