Published December 31, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

As this year comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting on just how much has changed in such a short amount of time. What began less than a year ago as a deeply personal idea—born from lived experience, frustration, and a desire to create something better—has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined.

Collectors MD started as a conversation. It’s now a community. A movement. A space people show up to when they need clarity, support, or simply to know they’re not alone.

The last ten months have been humbling in the best way. We’ve built support groups, launched partnerships, implemented tools & resources, created content, started conversations that many people were afraid to have out loud, and connected with collectors across the country who quietly needed this space more than they realized. None of this happened overnight. And none of it happened alone. Every message, every meeting, every shared story has shaped what Collectors MD is becoming.

What started as a simple idea has quietly turned into something real. Not because of scale or visibility, but because people showed up with honesty, openness, and a willingness to sit with uncomfortable conversations. That’s what built this space—not momentum, but intention.

What I’m most grateful for isn’t growth in numbers—it’s growth in honesty. The willingness people have shown to talk about impulse, pressure, regret, recovery, and responsibility. The courage it takes to admit when something you love has started to hurt. The trust it takes to show up anyway. That’s what this year has been about.

Looking ahead, I feel grounded—not rushed. There’s so much more to build, but there’s also clarity now. We know who this space is for. We know why it matters. And we know that progress doesn’t come from perfection, but from consistency, intention, and community. The goal has never been to fix the hobby—it’s been to protect the people inside it.

As the new year begins, I’m carrying forward a deep sense of gratitude. For the conversations. For the momentum. For the reminder that growth doesn’t always look loud—sometimes it looks like steadiness, honesty, and choosing to keep going.

There are better things ahead. And we’re building them together.

#CollectorsMD
Progress doesn’t come from rushing forward—it comes from reflecting, realigning, and choosing to grow with intention.

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