"The Best Of Apfelbaum's Corner"

I'm almost through with reading this great book that t360 sent my way. Interestingly enough, there is a paragraph that really struck me, so here it is: (from Apfelbaum's 1983 book)

"There seems to be more mental illness in our country than ever before. This despite a standard of living that is the highest ever known. Some may say that we always have had a problem but did not recognize it, and this may be correct. But the stress of present day life is certainly greater than that which our fore-fathers bore.
There is infinite need for forms of diversion and relaxation that are leisurely, complacent and readily available. Not too many of our accepted pastimes meet these requirements. Stamp collecting is selected by many professional people because it is the one hobby that can slow them down. It is a sort of peace conference with their emotions. And best of all, it is always within reach, because an album of stamps can be kept in any desk drawer for solitary unwinding needed at frequent times."

In other words----it's better than a pill!

Gussyboy1

Gussy
Thanks for the paragraph sounds like an awe-sum book you are reading

Thanks Gussy, the stamps seem to have kept me under control so far..at times I wonder if my hobby is frivolous..but then I will read about very successful people who make their collections a thing of utmost importance..if not their main focus...I AM IN GOOD COMPANY !

Very well said, and very true in my life. I've put down my stamps at various times in my life, and invariably I take up the hobby again during periods of high stress and/or turmoil.

I'm probably not sane, but stamp collecting keeps me at a tolerable level of insanity!

I've mentioned this in another post, but stamp collecting gives me the opportunity to have absolute control over at least one aspect of my life. No one can tell me how to collect, what to collect, when to collect, or where to collect. The stamps don't complain if they think I'm "doing it wrong." If I want to put all green stamps on one page and all stamps with cows on them on the next. Best of all, stamps don't complain or ask me to do anything.

A few of his articles are online at Apfelbaum's Corner.