This is why I'm awfully proud of our senior class gift in high school. Random, I know.
Most high school classes give something like a couch, or a sign, or a statue, or something else that they can engrave their class name on. We, however, gave the long time crossing guard an all expense paid vacation to Hawaii. I will always remember the look on her face when it was presented, and I can imagine it being a fantastic break for a lady who made very little money and somehow always looked happy.
Happiest people I've met. Nepalese. One of the poorest nations on the planet.
Money and happiness do not correlate.
I remember a Nepalese didi (sister) laughing her head of at the "stupid American" who had left her lodge without paying that morning. What an idiot for forgetting to pay. Her neighbours were falling around laughing. I caught the guy by lunch time, and he felt so bad he walked all the way back. I would love to have seen their reaction.
"Life is about experience". You can buy some of it, but not most of it. And the best things in life really are free.
Most high school classes give something like a couch, or a sign, or a statue, or something else that they can engrave their class name on. We, however, gave the long time crossing guard an all expense paid vacation to Hawaii. I will always remember the look on her face when it was presented, and I can imagine it being a fantastic break for a lady who made very little money and somehow always looked happy.
We bought ourselves an experience.