My Collection

For a brief period in the fourth grade, I was an avid collector of baseball cards. It was a thing and then I just lost interest. I haven’t been a collector of things ever since the ten-year old me gave up his shoebox of Astros, Dodgers, and Reds. People collect all kinds of weird things, and over time their collections become a part of their personality.

Today, I’ll advocate for curating a collection of friends. Unlike cards, coins, stamps, or beanie babies, friendships are living breathing things that grow, change, and can provide real joy (and heartache.) Consider each friend, like a rare card, as a unique prize with their own story, personality, and life experiences. Friends enrich our lives in ways no inanimate object ever can.

The value of things is determined by external markets, but the value of friendships is intrinsic, measured by the depth of connection, understanding, and shared experiences. While a rare baseball card might give a sense of pride or nostalgia, a true friend offers a deeper, more fulfilling sense of belonging and happiness (even if they often come with embarrassing stories to tell.)

Time to dust off that shoebox of old friends you’ve been ignoring and work on your collection. Maybe you should think about adding a couple of new ones to your portfolio. A collection of good friends offers a richer, more dynamic, journey through life full of laughter, support, and an ever-evolving narrative that no collection of baseball cards could ever match.