Guilt Versus Shame
Guilt and shame often get lumped together, but in recovery – whether from active addiction, compulsive collecting, or gambling behaviors – they operate very differently.
Guilt and shame often get lumped together, but in recovery – whether from active addiction, compulsive collecting, or gambling behaviors – they operate very differently.
When we step away from a compulsive behavior, the hardest part often isn’t stopping, it’s sitting with what’s left behind. The quiet. The restlessness. The
The picture below includes all of the things that 10-year-old me wanted in 1989, save a bag of Hostess potato chips (classic BBQ flavor please)
2025 was a year I jumped right back into collecting after an on and off relationship with the hobby for the past three decades. But
There’s a certain kind of strength that doesn’t just come from willpower, discipline, or overcoming urges. It comes from connection. From being seen. From sitting
One of the most encouraging things we’ve experienced recently is the volume and depth of feedback coming from our community. Messages from people who are
Burnout doesn’t usually announce itself. It doesn’t show up as a dramatic breaking point or a conscious decision to halt everything. More often, it slips
There are moments in recovery when the urge doesn’t feel like a thought—it feels like a force. It shows up suddenly, loudly, and with a
New Year’s resolutions can be especially hard in this hobby because the environment doesn’t slow down when people try to reset—it speeds up. January is
During active addiction—whether it shows up through gambling, compulsive collecting, or spending—many of us aren’t just chasing a “win”. We’re chasing an image. A version
Recovery often starts with learning how to change our behavior—but it deepens when we learn how to stop hiding what we feel. Putting on a
As I read today’s CLLCT article asking industry leaders what they’d change about the hobby, I found myself nodding along. More transparency. Fewer conflicts of