Sort Of Depressed And Need Cheering Up..

OK so I know some of my posts are less than informative but I am just so excited about my new hobby I just want to contribute more than I am. I inherited a collection that I thought was huge but after sorting and culling out the unsound ones and putting them on a vario stock book I realized that it isn't as large as I had originally thought. So having said that I am still enthusiastic about expanding my humble little collection and am mostly interested in pre- 1940's issues and want to beef it up a bit. I have a little budget of almost a 100.00 a month to play with and would like advice. I definitely don't expect to get rich or anything of the sort but I do want an integral collection mainly something of worth to pass down to my children when I'm gone. I have a hepatic liver and aren't doing so well medically and this hobby (and your forum) keeps my sanity and mind off of all the medical stuff. So I will try harder to be more informative and I will be asking a lot of questions as weather things I want to purchase would be worth my while. I hope I'm making sense as I'm a little down today. I thought about everything and an avatar is way small potatoes in the grand scheme of it all so now you know a little about me and my intent and apologize if I have offended anyone for any reason. I just haven't been myself the last week or so as I'm on chemotherapy and just don't feel cheery. BUT I do look forward to reading all your philatelic wisdom everyday and learning all the fascinating facets of this amazing hobby. Peace~ Jeffrey

Sorry to hear about your liver, Jeffrey. I've worked with a few hep patients over the years, so I've seen how rough it can get. Most people don't realize, it's not your typical chemo, but has some of the toughest side affects.

I've had a chronic illness (not liver related) for over a decade. Spent a bundle on prescription medication to keep me alive, but not necessarily happy. After the turn of the century, I decided to spend more time with my stamps for relaxation, and sure enough, it seemed to provide one of the best forms of relief. Although I'm still frequently tied down with my NPO, having stamps here and there (and everywhere) helps relax me (seems to have the opposite affect on my wife, though).

The only advice I can give you is to take some more time thumbing through and enjoying your current collection. See what catches your eye. Only YOU know what kind of stamp gives you enjoyment/relaxation. The right way is the way that makes you happy. It's your collection, not somebody else's. If you want to specialize, then do so. If you want to collect everything in sight, then do so. I used to specialize in several different areas, but after my lengthy illness, I found my old childhood worldwide collection and rediscovered the joys of world-wide collecting. Others told me it was hopeless, but ironically, it was through world-wide collecting that I found more hope to pull me through the tough times when my illness flared up again.

I hope you find that your stamps, whichever way you decided to build up your collection, will also help you pull through the rough times in your health.

k

Jeffrey, sorry to hear about your illness and wish you all the best in your recovery. Like you, I really enjoy this hobby and have a similar budget to spend on stamps. I have derived a great deal of pleasure out of visiting this website every day and learning from the many wise collectors who so willing share their knowledge.

I look forward to reading your posts and seeing scans of your interesting stamps
Regards
Mike

Hey Man,

Pick a number between 1 and 10.

Hi Jeff

I don't know if this will cheer you up but you have
a heck of a bigger monthly stamp budget than I do.
Mine is zero.

All the best and enjoy the hobby.

I have no doubts about the mental theraputic value of stamps. I can have as much fun with a cheap bunch of U.S. precancels or Argentine officials as I could with much more expensive stamps...if only more people could be aware of the benefits of the hobby..but I guess we all have to find out for ourselves !

Hello Jeffrey,

Sorry to hear about your medical condition. Like the members mentioned above, the little pieces of colorful and informative pieces of paper can bring you unlimited joy. With the budget that you have, you are all set for great enjoyment through this hobby.

Get well soon sir.

Hi Jeffrey,

I can certainly relate to your condition, I spent a lot of years on dialysis before I got my new kidney (yes, I now celebrate TWO birthdays each year ). And the amount of enjoyment I get from my stamp collection is nearly priceless. So, with that, ENJOY, it can be one of the less expensive hobbies going, and absolutely provides us with many new (even if virtual) friends to spend our time with. So many fascinating topics abound this forum. I can't repeat enough what a fantastic bunch of people inhabit the SCF. Lastly... Best of luck with your health, and may you feel better each and every day.

Dave.

Don't worry about informative or not informative or anything. Just be yourself. You want to ask questions that no one else does, that's great. There are probably tons of peop,le out there who want to ask the same question but can't or won't. You are helping them.

Your posting whatever you post is helping someone somewhere. Not everyone who read s this forum has joined up (yet!) but still like a good read (or not) and nice stamp pics (or not) or just the give and take of this forum. And you and everyone else are a part of that however you do things because it is you and your contribution that is different than anyone else's and that is what makes it so important.

A friend (family doc) told me something today. He said that it has been shown that each person has a direct impact on the lives of, on average, 29 other people (this is daily I think). Just being you is all you have to do. People see you, talk to you, watch how you do stuff. Maybe it's a bit less than 29 people, maybe it's a lot more.

People look at you and think, man if he can do all the stuff he has to do, I can certainly do the stuff I need to do. You help other people just by being you.

On stamps, do you have any country or countries or areas of the world or anything that are better for you (you like them better than others)? What are you working on or thinking about?

Hi Jeff
As well, I'm sorry to hear of your condition. And there's certainly no need to apologize for anything here. We all contribute what we can, when we can. It won't always be nuggets of gold that come out of our 'mouths'.
Personally, I'm just coming out of six months of unemployment. I've picked up a nice contract which will hopefully expand and be the basis of something bigger. But I can tell you that my collecting and this forum especially, have helped keep me sane this last little while. Admittedly SCF has often distracted me from what I should have been doing, like the job search (still does, I should be working right now) but it is worth while. Enjoy the ride, I'm sure things will look up.
Cheers
James

Isn't it great to come to a place where within an hour of posting, more than half a dozen friends have replied with words of encouragement?
I was new to this hobby when I joined less than a year ago, having inherited some stamps. I recognise the feeling you are having - but I thought it was only me that felt this way - so you have been very informative and helpful to me, thankyou! The initial excitement turns to a kind of overwhelmed and inadequate feeling. I am thinking now this must be quite normal!
And it also passes, as you develop your own interests and begin to trust your instincts about what is right for you. Relax, this is for you, no-one else. You don't have to impress or compete. No-one on this forum is an expert on Everything! This is a social site for many members, not just a technical one. Be thoughtful, ask questions, join in discussions, share your experiences.
Enjoy your stamps and maybe spend a little of your budget each month on something completely new and off the wall. It might turn out to be your thing, it might not, but it will a good learning experience and keep things fresh and interesting.

I do not want to be a snoop..but I do enjoy it when people tell a little bit about themselves..some people frown on this ...but hey..we are human beings last time I checked !!

@ skilo54 "Pick a number between 1 and 10"? OK hmm... OK 4
Thank you for all your concerns and well wishes as I really needed that today.
@ Dave - Your VERY fortunate to have gotten all that taken care of. Congrats to you my friend.
I found out last Tuesday that I'm terminal and have maybe a year or 2 on this wonderful planet yet with my little girl and my wonderful wife and they both support me through absolutely everything including my hobby. EDITED IN JUST NOW:(I should add that the Dr. said that there is NO expiration date or toe-tag waiting on me so anything is possible- that gave me some hope) I just want to go out happy and not sweat the small stuff as I just learned recently that one never truly knows how to live until one is faced with his/her demise. OK, enough with the depressing crap... I wish you well in all your personal endeavors too eg:, finding work, health, & everything in between as well!

Suh-weet! Nice One pal! Exactly the number I was thinking about too!

I don't know if you are into pre-40's U.S. Airmail, but I would be happy to send you the following 3 covers to add to your collection. There is a pretty nice one, an obvious damage one, and a bit of a wrinkly one? Stamps are all perfect, no damage to them.

You'd be helping me out because I keep getting tempted by the beauty of those stamps and I can't afford to collect any other topics!






Email me your address and I'll send them off to you tomorrow if you are into them.

Most importantly take care of yourself and post as little or as much as you want, it all adds to the pool!

Keep Smilin' and maybe listen to some Jerry Garcia, always brightens my day!

Have a Good One,

Skilo54

*edit-just removed my email addy

Jeffrey,

We are as our title says....a family. We are your 'other' family.
Stick with us my friend.

Now pick a Country or topic between A to Z and send me your address.
This is not a request, it's an order.

Londonbus1...waiting by the inbox.

Jeff, I hope you feel better soon. How long were you in Turkey and where? I hope things pick up for you.