People argue endlessly about this—some say love others say happiness or money. Objectively speaking what truly is the single best thing a person can experience or possess in their lifetime on this planet?

As an old guy looking back I'd say it's peace of mind. Not excitement not wealth not even constant happiness—those are fleeting. Peace of mind is the foundation that lets you enjoy the good times and endure the bad. It comes from living with integrity managing your expectations being grateful for what you have and having a few people you can be completely yourself with.

Everything else—love money achievements—can be taken away or can cause anxiety. But a calm resilient mind is the ultimate asset. The ancient Stoics like Marcus Aurelius knew this. It's the ability to experience the full range of human emotion without being destroyed by it. That's what I wish for my kids more than anything else. It's not glamorous but it's real.

I'm going to be a contrarian and say the best thing is curiosity. Hear me out. Love can hurt happiness is ephemeral money is a tool. But a deep enduring curiosity about the world people and yourself is what fuels growth learning and connection. It gets you out of bed in the morning. It turns challenges into puzzles and boredom into exploration.

With curiosity you never truly get old or stagnant. It leads you to love (curiosity about another person) to happiness (finding joy in discovering new things) and often to the means to make money (solving interesting problems). It's the engine of a life lived fully not just passively experienced. Without it even the "best" things can become dull. So cultivate your curiosity above all else.

This is the ultimate philosophical question and by its nature there's no single "objective" answer because value is subjective. However if we look at decades of psychological research longitudinal studies on well-being and even philosophical traditions the strongest candidate isn't a "thing" you possess but a state of being and relating. Many researchers would point to meaningful connections and a sense of purpose as the core of a fulfilling life.

Studies like the Harvard Study of Adult Development which tracked lives for over 80 years consistently found that high-quality relationships were the single strongest predictor of happiness health and longevity. Money and fame correlated poorly. Viktor Frankl in his profound work "Man's Search for Meaning" argued that the primary drive in life is not pleasure but the pursuit of meaning. So the "best thing" might be the capacity to love deeply to contribute to something larger than oneself and to find contentment in the present. This combination fosters resilience against suffering and creates a life that feels worthwhile not just pleasurable. You can read about the Harvard study's findings directly.