Unimpressed

This morning, as I was reading a silly book, I came across this line about one of the characters:

"Unimpressed by brands or wealth or style, he put much more value on shared experience than what society said something was worth."

I re-read that sentence three times and then because I didn't want to forget it, I wrote it down.

I immediately thought of these verses from Matthew 6: 20-21

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What a better world we would have if we were all unimpressed by brands or wealth or style. What a better world we would have if we spent way more time and energy on our relationships.

For most of us, it is so easy to be impressed by what others have - a bigger house, a better car, lots of designer shoes and clothes. There is nothing wrong with houses and cars and clothes, but what about our shared experiences? What about our relationships?

Do you expend enough energy and time with those you love? Let's be honest here -- I certainly do not spend enough time with family and close friends.

A family recently shared with me that for Christmas this year, they gave shared experiences - a different experience with each child. What a great idea - two pedicures for a mother and daughter; an overnight fishing trip with a father and son (or heck - a mother and daughter!!). The gift wouldn't have to be expensive but there wouldn't be a money limit -- ideas could range from a great trip, tickets to a concert, or even a simple picnic in the park.

We played Dirty Santa with our Tuesday night Young Professionals group back in December. Mark ended the game with a set of Dominoes. On one of those cold winter nights, we googled "how to play dominoes" and we've been playing three or four games a couple of nights a week - what was a gag gift has actually become a shared experience. Just in case you are an experienced Domino player, we play the most simple version available!! We both have a tendency to do our own thing at night after working a long day - we exercise (separately); I read or look at my phone; he watches TV. Dominoes has become something we do together - a shared experience.  It's a start!

What about you? I know that no one will admit to being impressed by brands or wealth or style (even though I think most of us can be or have been impressed by those things).  How do you spend quality time with friends and family?