Was hoping for a little better…

Published November 21, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

There is a quiet lie that lives inside setback. It tells you the mistake defines you. That the relapse erased the progress. That the stumble somehow invalidated the strength it took to stand in the first place. But in reality, every setback carries information, and every moment of collapse holds the blueprint for the comeback.

In the world of collecting—and in recovery—the comeback is never about perfection. It’s about visibility—finally seeing the patterns that once operated in the dark. It’s about choosing to pause instead of react, to reflect instead of chase, to breathe instead of spiral. The setback may bruise the ego, but the comeback reshapes the mind.

Fall down seven times, get up eight—not through force alone, but through support, community, and the courage to accept the hand that helps you stand again.

What people often miss is that growth forged through struggle is stronger than growth built on ease. When you fall and choose to rise, you rise differently. With more awareness. With more humility. With more intention. That is why the comeback carries weight—it’s built not on fantasy, but on lived understanding.

Every collector who returns after burnout, after overspending, after shame, is not restarting—they are reentering with clarity. They know where the edges are now. They understand the cost of impulse. And they are better equipped to choose differently. That isn’t weakness. That’s earned strength.

The setback teaches. The comeback transforms. And when you look closely, you realize the road back was never a step backward—it was the moment you learned how to walk with purpose.

#CollectorsMD
The setback reveals the wound, but the comeback proves the will—and the strength you build there lasts longer than the pain that created it.

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Published November 16, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

As of late, I’ve been reminded of something that shows up in both recovery and community work: it’s easy to agree with a mission, to voice support, or to say the right things when conversations are flowing—but translating intention into follow-through is where the real work begins. Words can spark awareness, but actions are what determine whether that awareness becomes real change. That gap isn’t about blame; it’s simply the space between what we hope for and what we’re willing to contribute toward.

What’s become clear recently is that action doesn’t always have to be loud or dramatic to matter. Sometimes it’s choosing to ask a thoughtful question, taking a moment to reflect before reacting, sharing a resource with someone who might need it, or showing up even when you feel tired. These seemingly small decisions carry more weight than grand statements because they’re the behaviors that actually shift culture—one interaction, one choice, one moment at a time.

What has encouraged me most is watching so many people in our community take those kinds of steps. In our weekly meetings, group chats, and social media, I’ve seen genuine concern for others, creative ideas shared without hesitation, honest conversations about the state of the hobby, and a growing desire to build something healthier and more sustainable. Those efforts—quiet or visible—are what keep this movement grounded. They’re the reason this work continues to grow and make a lasting impact.

When people choose to show up—not for validation or applause, but for each other—something real begins to take shape.

Collectors MD has never been about perfection or performance. It’s about intentionality, about choosing alignment over appearance, and about recognizing that real change doesn’t come from statements alone. It comes from the consistency of our actions, even the ones no one else sees. And every time someone chooses to act with that level of intention, it reinforces the foundation we’re building together.

So while words can inspire, actions are what transform. Lately, I’ve watched more and more people choose the path that actually builds—through action, integrity, and intention—rather than the one that just sounds politically correct in the moment. And that is what shows me that this movement has the strength to outgrow hesitation and become something that truly changes lives.

#CollectorsMD
When intention becomes action, movements grow stronger—and each small step we take makes this one more real, more honest, and more capable of helping those who need it.

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Rounding back on my post yesterday in the main Mantel page regarding WNBA Panini NFT drop this morning. WNBA Panini NFT Prizm Drops - Paige is the Rage. I did ask on that post for folks to follow up in this group for the after pack drop summary as we try to grow more members and participation in this Panini NFT Group. I was able to secure 13 packs at $35 a piece. Max packs allowed per user/buyer was 20. Drop sold out in seconds. Did any of the group members here get in on the packs? What are your plans for the packs? Open the packs or sell on secondary Panini NFT platform marketplace?

Share one card that will never leave your PC (feel free to share why in the comments).

This one is currently at PSA for authentication/encasing.

2024 Topps Inception Francisco Lindor 1/1 Black Printing Plate #19 - New York Mets