The best Christmas presents are experiences, not things

As my sister (now 12-years-old) and I opened up presents on Christmas day a few years ago, the largest and most beautifully wrapped ones were naturally chosen first. The thin piece of paper stuck between numerous presents went unnoticed until the very end, when all the other gifts had been unwrapped.

Little did I know the paper would turn out to be the best present of all.

As I ripped through the wrapping paper and read the print on the folded piece of computer paper, I began grinning: It was a printout confirming accommodations for a family trip to Hawaii later that year.

Unlike a piece of jewelry, some shoes or an electronic appliance that I would rarely use, the vacation brought me a week of adventures and relaxation. My family explored the island, visited beautiful waterfalls and experienced the Hawaiian culture. I was left with memories of sunny beaches and tropical piña coladas that I would look back on while shivering and doing endless homework during the winter.

The next Christmas, there was another piece of paper; this time, it did not go unnoticed. The paper announced that my family would be going to Panama that February.

Once again, I got to de-stress on a beach and forget the burdens of schoolwork for a week.

While there was not a similar paper under the tree last year, these experiences have taught me that the happiest people are rich with memories, not things.

But, vacations are not the only experiences that can be gifted. A fun day exploring the city, a concert ticket or even a small picnic can be meaningful inexpensive gifts.

In a materialistic society where people are always bombarded with commercials for new gadgets or games, it may seem that the people who purchase the most are the happiest.

However, that is not the case. Things become clutter stored away in the back of closets or in boxes in the attic, often forgotten. Memories, on the other hand, stay forever and remind people of joy when times may seem dull.

Experiences should be the most treasured gifts as they strengthen relationships and create everlasting moments of joy.