Finding Peace and Grounding Through Collectibles
I recently sat down with a gentleman in my town who is not a counselor, therapist or psychologist to ask some questions about sports memorabilia and collectibles. Our conversation led to something far more valuable than signed baseballs and sports cards. As it turns out this individual has been in the collectibles business for several years. He helps his clients build, create and maintain sports collections. He is considered an authority in his profession specifically early 20th century baseball.
I could have spent hours talking with this gentleman just about sports and collectibles, as he is the authority in our community (in my opinion). However, our conversation flowed to a particular client of his. The client is a veteran of multiple overseas conflicts and has experienced trauma from those tours in the military. Mr. C, as we will call him, the professional sports collector, told me through the client’s sports collection, he was able to cope and relieve some of the trauma around his experiences.
The concept around this is finding something to refocus and occupy the mind, the added benefit is nostalgia and joy. Most adults collected something in their childhood. These could have been sports cards, comic books, stamps or toys. The nostalgia around these items provides memories leading back to a simpler time in life.
Going back to my conversation with Mr. C, he also found a renewed interest in his passion for baseball collectibles after his wife passed over a year ago. His wife and marriage were a very important part of his life. After she passed, he returned to the passion of collectibles. Reorganization of his massive collection allowed him to take his mind off his wife and find a way to help others as well. He expressed further interest in helping others and possibly former groups, to help this hobby alleviate trauma.
The simple concept around this is a version of grounding. Grounding is a way to take yourself out of moments of anxiety, stress, or depression. An individual can focus on the environment around them. Examples are counting tiles on the ceiling or noting the sounds of the world around you at that moment. Collecting sports cards can provide the same refocus. An individual can pick up their folder, or container of cards, review the player, the team, the assigned number to the card and distract themselves from their current stressors. In addition, the anticipation around opening a new or old pack of cards can boost nostalgia around the cards contained inside the pack.
I personally found this as a great way to distract myself from the passing of my mother in 2021. My childhood collection was damaged in a flood so I was unable to go through and reorganize them. I was able to find more unopened cards from the 80’s and 90’s. When I received my first box it was just like Christmas morning for me and took me straight back to my childhood. As an adult, I have found also I am more careful and attentive with the organization and treatment of my cards as well. This is not about selling cards, or looking for the rare, or hidden gems, it is all about my love for sports and the nostalgia involved.
The link below is from a blog in 2012 that highlights more benefits of card collecting.
https://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/iteam/card-collecting-good-health-blog-entry-1.1631789
