Published July 12, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD
When we step back from buying, selling, trading, or even browsing, we sometimes feel a strange emptiness. Like we’ve lost a familiar rhythm—and we’re suddenly unsure of who we are without it.
That’s because collecting, for many of us, isn’t just a hobby—it’s a foundation. It structures our routines, shapes our relationships, and becomes part of our identity. It’s where we go when we want connection, control, comfort, or excitement. So when we hit pause—voluntarily or not—it can stir up questions we don’t always want to face:
“Who am I without this?”
“What fills the space when my hobby goes quiet?”
“Do I even like who I am when I’m not chasing the next thing?”
These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signs of growth. Signs that something deeper is stirring beneath the surface—an invitation to reintroduce ourselves to the parts that may have been buried under the noise of the next purchase or post.
Stepping back doesn’t mean losing part of yourself. It means rediscovering the rest of you.
Take a moment to reflect:
Think about a time you weren’t actively collecting—maybe it was a day, a week, or a longer break.
How did you feel? What came up emotionally?
What parts of yourself resurfaced in the quiet?
You may find that what fills the space isn’t emptiness, but opportunity. The creative part. The restful part. The thoughtful, present, relational part. The you that isn’t defined by the next transaction.
That version of you still matters. Still belongs. Still counts.
#CollectorsMD
Your hobby is part of your story—but it’s not the whole book.
—
Follow us on Instagram: @collectorsmd
Subscribe to our Newsletter & Support Group
Join The Conversation On Mantel
Read More Daily Reflections
