Priceless vs. Pricey
June 01, 2011You’ve probably seen the commercial. A father and son enter the ballpark as the voiceover says:
Two tickets = $46
Two hot dogs, two sodas, two popcorns = $27
One autographed baseball = $50
Real conversation with eleven-year-old son = Priceless
Does this ever happen in real life? Is it possible to experience “priceless” moments in a world filled with price tags? Well, thankfully, the answer is yes. It’s just a matter of recognizing the difference between pricey and priceless.
Priceless moments are those you will remember forever, that you enjoy with the person or people you love most in life, and that serve as a reminder of your love for them. Priceless moments may even change your perspective, or give you a renewed passion for life. Priceless moments are priceless specifically because they are rare, because if you did them every day they’d be mundane. They may be expensive, reasonably priced, and in some instances free. There’s nothing wrong with spending money on expensive priceless moments as long as you prioritize and buy them with money you’ve saved.
Here are some questions to consider when deciding if something is priceless, or pricey:
1. Is it ordinary, or rare?
When I was 12, I went to summer camp where I learned how to water ski. Ever since then I’ve longed to buy a speed boat. Anyone who has ever owned a boat will tell you—it’s pricey.
I own a speed boat today. My family and I go out on the boat maybe five or six times a year, and while my kids love going out on the boat, I wouldn’t classify each day on the lake as priceless. However, once a year we make a special trip up the river to watch the fireworks on July 4th. Those are the moments when my wife looks at me and says “I’m glad we have the boat.”
2. Does it have significant meaning for you and/or others?
Seventeen years ago I proposed to my wife, Susan. (She had no idea; she was totally surprised.) We were at a nice romantic restaurant in Tiburon, CA, and for some reason the restaurant was empty. (It probably had something to do with the fact that it was the day before Thanksgiving.) Ever since then, Susan and I have sought out opportunities to enjoy romantic dinners in special places. We have a very short list of priceless evenings we have enjoyed specifically because of the significance of the experience.
3. Will it keep you from reaching other higher priority goals?
What has made the experiences mentioned above priceless is that we have not had to compromise other goals in order to enjoy them. Like everything else in life, it’s a matter of keeping things in balance.
Our children are very important to us, and we place a high priority on the things they are involved in. One of my favorite priceless moments involved my daughter Rachel. When she was five, we signed her up for soccer. Because Rachel had never played soccer before, she was very apprehensive. As her father, it saddened me to see her cower every time the ball came near her. So I did what I hope any father would do: I took her by the hand and I ran up and down the field with her. Just knowing I was there allowed her to enjoy the game. It didn’t take long before she let go of my hand and gave me “permission” to sit on the sidelines and watch like the other parents.
Summer is right around the corner. Are you planning a summer to remember, or one to forget? Whether it’s a trip to the beach, or a barbeque in the back yard, see what you can do to take those ordinary events and make them priceless moments.