Experience Junkies: The Futility of Searching for Every New Thrill and Sensation

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An experience junkie is a type of person who always finds themselves seeking new and thrilling experiences.

These experiences could be anything: traveling to new places, meeting new types of people, attending big music festivals, experimenting with drugs and sex, diving into new hobbies and interests, and just – in general – wanting to experience as many new things as possible, just for the sake of “experiencing” them.

The “experience junkie” craves novelty, excitement, and risk-taking. Each new “experience” becomes a notch in their belt to prove to themselves how much they’ve truly “lived” their lives. The bigger and more exciting the experience, the more they want to have it.

While there is nothing wrong with seeking new experiences, the “experience junkie” can become a type of hedonist and addict toward new experiences. They find themselves constantly craving the next new thrill or new sensation.

Often what happens to the “experience junkie” is they lose their ability to enjoy the ordinary. This turns their happiness into a never-ending chase. As one new high dies out, they stumble and panic for the next. Their life is only defined by “super moments.”

I’ve never been much of an “experience junkie” myself. I’m not the type of person to make a bucket list of super awesome things I really want to do before I die.

One reason I don’t have a bucket list is because I know I’ll never get to do half of the things anyway.

We often make big plans for ourselves that we’ll never follow through with. It happens – it’s an inevitable part of life. I don’t want to be in my death bed and think to myself, “Shit, I never finished my bucket list. I failed!”

Another reason I don’t have a bucket list is because I wouldn’t even know what I’d put on the list.

Besides a few countries that I’d like to visit, a few bands I’d like to see perform live, and some professional goals, there’s not much I really dream about “experiencing.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against having “super high” moments in life. But there is a point where only wanting “super high” moments can get in the way of true happiness.

At times, it’s also important to just appreciate the ordinary things – your cup of coffee in the morning, looking at the stars at night, taking your dog for a walk, or idle chitchat with the cashier at the grocery store.

If we can’t learn to appreciate the everyday things, if we need to constantly have “new and exciting” experiences to feel like we are truly living, then happiness will always elude us.

I’ve never been the type of person who thought I needed to travel the world to find true happiness. I’ve always thought I could find happiness in my own backyard.



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