Things vs Experiences: What Makes Us Happier?

I stumbled across this great article on happiness a month ago. Essentially it talks about how if you have the choice between buying a pool for your backyard or going to Greece for a few weeks, the trip to Greece will make you happier. It doesn't matter that the pool could last you al lifetime. Experiences almost always trump things when it comes to the pleasure they give us.

This reality has been backed up by research (check out the article “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right.”) for more details. I have been reflecting on this truth a fair amount this summer. If buying stuff doesn't really make me that happy (or at least not that happy for very long) then why am I so enamored with buying, well, stuff?

For myself I believe it is an error of the mind. I have a belief that things (especially new shiny things) will make me happy. A new car is better then an old one (or none at all). Yet whenever we get rid of the stuff in our house I find myself relaxing a little more and feeling a little more content. I don't think it's the stuff itself that is the problem, I think it's the beliefs about the stuff that hurt us.

My Son Riker always would like to buy more toys. I estimate he has about 4 or 5 times as much toys as I had when I was young. But I don't think he is any happier then I was. When we get older the toys we want just get bigger and more expensive. How many of us are still stuck in that earlier mindset - thinking that if we just buy the right stuff we'll be happy?

So how does one break the power of the idea? I think by challenging it. Doing an experiment to see if it is true. Let me know if you've done such a thing . . .

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modern homes designs

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modern home designs

modern homes designs

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Latest homes designs

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Recycled ISO cargo containers will be a core structural element of each home. In addition, the homes will feature sustainably harvested woods; bamboo floors; low-VOC caulks, paints, and adhesives; passive and active solar systems; energy-efficient envelope and design; long-lasting cool roof; high-quality, operable windows and design for ventilation; LED and CFL lighting; water-efficient fixtures and dual-flush toilets; and construction waste will be minimized through factory fabrication. Logical Homes will work with anyone wanting to use solar, solar thermal, wind, or gray water systems.

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Batman & Robin

Custom Batman & Robin Nike hightops by Daniel “Brass Monki” Reese. More custom designs here.

Buy them here.

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Flos Wall Piercing Lights

With the Flos Soft Architecture Wall Piercing lights, you can create some very artistic and creative patterns using a grouping of these simple ring lights.

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3.141592....

Pi necklace by Japan-based design team RGB-works.

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Cherry Blossom Soap

How cool is this?

Cherry Blossoms Soap is thin and very lightweight soap looks a petal of cherry blossom. Once you soak it in water,it melt into bubbles in a blink of an eye.

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Hylla Cumulus

The cutest cloud-shaped shelves, designed by Caral Hagerling.
Work especially good on a blue painted walls

You can find them here.

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3D Portraits Made From Phone Books

Alex Queral creates amazing three-dimensional portraits by carving faces of famous people into recycled phone books.

Using a very sharp knife, the artist carefully peels away the pages like the skin of an onion to reveal the portrait within.

More details here.

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Paper Jewelry by Nel Linssen

Designer Nel Linssen creates magnificent jewelry from reams of paper.

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Urinal And Sink Combo

Eco urinal concept, designed by Yeongwoo Kim, recycles the water that is used for washing hands to flush the urine.

The sink with an integrated urinal will also help free up some extra space in the bathroom.

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PVC Pipe Speakers

Audio speakers handmade from PVC pipes.
Custom colors available.

Get them here.

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Carulla Knives Campaign

Creative ambient by Juan Jose Posada for the brand knives Carulla, applied in newspaper and on bus shelters.

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Kinetic Wall: A Vertical Lake Building Facade

International design studio Urban Art Projects puts the soothing effects of water into an unlikely place; the side of Brisbane, Australia’s airport car park.

This project is being developed with artist Ned Kahn. It is called a “Kinetic Wall,” and it will essentially be an eight-story-tall public art installation. Seen from the outside, the installation will look like a vertical body of water, complete with gentle waves and natural movement. From the inside of the building, the movement of the facade will create beautiful patterns in sunlight on the interior surfaces.

The effect is created with 250,000 aluminum panels which are loosely suspended so as to move gently with the wind.

It also helps provide passive cooling and ventilation for the car park, cutting down on energy costs and keeping the building more comfortable all year long. The new parking garage, complete with the unique facade, will be completed in late 2011.

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Constrained Ball

Drawing aid created by korean product designer Giha Woo. Once attached to the pen, this device helps to draw straight lines without using a ruler, measuring the drawn distance at the same time.

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