I read a very interesting article yesterday about how anyone seeking happiness should spend money on experiences and not things. I loved the line “we are but a sum total of our experiences”. How true is that! I have always believed that you need things for comfort but beyond a certain level they are just well things. A diamond ring or a designer bag will make me happy but after a while it will become, as the article said “my new normal” and I will move on. But the trip I made to run the Bangkok International Half or StanChart Mumbai Full will stay with me forever. I’ve got memories, stories to be shared, conversation starters and connections that were formed. And with these experiences negative or positive – I evolve and they make me who I am.

From Sarojini, no filter, clicked from new phone

Deep down, it’s something we all know but we do get carried away and caught up trying to fit in. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against brands or labels but I’m just glad that I’m equally happy shopping at Sarojini as I would be at a Mango/Zara sale (my upper limit). My latest acquisition is a recently launched not-so-expensive phone called Honor 4x*. I can use it for clicking decent pictures, facebooking, browsing (screen is as big as an iPhone 6 plus), google maps (damn I’m always lost) and for all the other high-end smart phone functions (I can vouch for that as I was using an iPhone for the longest time). Now, would I have been happier had I bought the latest high end phone? Yes, but may be only for one or two weeks. How far could I have taken a conversation about my new phone with friends? I could so relate to the article (link given below) as it was something I always believed in. I now plan to allocate the fund that I saved (I spent 10,499 on this one!) by planning my next runcation (running vacation). Dreaming about running in Ladakh already!

*http://www.fastcoexist.com/3043858/world-changing-ideas/the-science-of-why-you-should-spend-your-money-on-experiences not-thing

Another one