It's easy to get distracted by all the options. Here's how I keep peaceful and focused.

Greetings again!!

Having read some entries as of late, I started thinking about the complexities and personal trials I have encountered in my collecting life.

There truly have been some very high peaks and some low points along the way, and God knows there have been times (as lately) where I want to acquire more than the wallet (or credit) can deliver. There have been bouts of sheer happiness, and powerful disappointment.

So, why do I continue to do this to myself? and how do I stay at peace and positive about the ever changing world of collecting?

Well, I continue to do this because collecting gives me the opportunity to actually FEEL something, and gives me an escape from what everybody else wants from me and gives me a venue to get what I want for myself, and from myself.

I am able to focus a drive that has nothing to do with anything regarding my social status, my career, my marriage, my children, it all has to do with focus on my inner drive to acquire "things" that I want and like or love very much.

I feel if I am able to acquire things I want, and for no other reason than just to HAVE it, I can more freely give of myself what others want from me personally.

It's a complex thing that collecting gives me. And a rollercoaster ride for sure, but for me on a personal level, it has been worth it.

How do I stay at peace and positive about the ever changing world of collecting?

THAT has been the hardest thing for me. And staying in focus requires the most discipline, which discipline is something I need more of.

It's easy to get distracted by the amount of "stuff" put on the market lately, and the products that package or grade the "stuff".

When I first came into collecting I got overwhelmed by the sheer amount of baseball cards there were. At the time there were 3 major brands worth collecting ( Topps, Fleer, and Donruss) and now there are many more. A friend who was a seasoned collector at the time gave me great advice.

He said "Only collect what YOU love, not what seems to be popular...and you'll never be disappointed with collecting."

Now, that is superior advice, and it has kept me in focus as I started collecting coins this past year. I mean look at the catalog at usmint.gov for instance....I feel like a kid in a candy store there!! BUT will I ever have every product they offer? NO!! Will I ever get all the things I even WANT from there?? NO NO!!! BUT will I acquire the item I really LIKE from there? The 1 item that makes me feel happy and I am passionate about? YES YES YES!!!

Then there's what to do with coins from the mint after I get them. Do I send ALL of them to NGC for grading? and do I make damn sure I get the "Early Release" label?

No, I do NOT send them ALL for grading. I really like the Presidential Proof coins and the packaging they come in far better than the packaging they would have from NGC, so I will not send my Prezzies in for grading..because I LIKE the packaging they are in...absolutely great job by the mint on that.

BUT I will ALWAYS send in my SAE W's and Proofs and any commemms I get in for grading. The packaging does not do anything for me from the mint, and I like to be able to add these coins to my registry. So far as Early release goes...well, IF I see one on auction that I like....I get it. BUT I don't really care about making sure I rush my own coins off for that.

And that's only because I have made a personal decision not to worry about the ER label so much. It's also easier to get a valuation from the price guides with a non ER label anyway..so that's my OWN take, and what keeps me peaceful and happy in the hobby.

So, I try not to worry about what NGC does, or what the mint does or does not do, I worry about what I personally like. This has kept me in a passion about collecting for many years, and I hope this rather long post helps any of you who are getting disappointed find a new reason to collect.

Thanks for taking time to read!!