Wellness is in the Cards
It’s been almost two years now since the world was shook by the onslaught that we know now as COVID-19. This pandemic has changed the way we do business, go about work, and literally the way we live. As we speak, this contagion has continued to affect everyone and has caused us to adapt to the new normal whether we like it or not.
It was during these tough and boring times that I was able to rekindle a childhood hobby that had previously brought fun and camaraderie between me and my older sibling in our younger years. In this blog article, I will share how such a simple hobby was able to provide me with eustress during the pandemic.
Lost and Found
Back in college, sports cards collecting particularly NBA cards, were one of the hobbies that was popular among teenagers mainly because we Filipinos really love basketball, and it was an era wherein a certain person named Michael Jordan was taking the world by storm through his athleticism and inspired play. Back in the late 90’s, a single pack from the most notable NBA cards producer like Upper Deck, SkyBox, and Topps containing around 8 to 12 cards would cost around Php80. My brother and I were able to sustain the hobby by saving parts of our daily school allowances so that we could at least buy one pack a week.
At first, we were collecting NBA cards just for the fun of it and the excitement of pulling a popular NBA player that we could show off to our friends. Then, it eventually came to a point where we were able to acquire very valuable cards that we would sell or trade for useful items like basketball shoes. But this passion of ours stopped when we started working and having our own families. It is in this preoccupied stage in our lives that we somehow lost our album containing all our collections and led us to step away from the hobby.
There were times in the past that I would be reminded of NBA cards through articles and social media but the thought of starting from scratch and the cost of collecting prevented me from even trying. But it all changed during this pandemic when I found out through one my nephew’s FB post that my brother has restarted the hobby. Seeing my sibling and nephews having fun unpacking cards reminded me of the thrilling sensation and enjoyment that I felt back then. I realized that it is a good avenue for me to divert stress and boredom amidst all the restrictions of the new normal.
Excitement, Investment, and Wellness
Because card collecting is quite an expensive hobby now as compared to the past decade, I knew that I needed to find ways to minimize my spending. So instead of buying individual packs that costs 5x more now, I jumpstarted my passion by joining box break groups and auctions which gave me the opportunity to acquire cards as quick and cost efficient as possible.
In the 8 months since I rekindled the hobby, I was able to find that youthful side in me that makes me want to experience the thrill of chasing cards of NBA players that I idolize. On the social aspect, the hobby allowed me to have some sort of conversation topic with friends and families during get togethers. Being a member of card groups also gave me the venue to create new acquaintances and gain connections outside my circle.
Though it wasn’t the main reason why I revived this passion mine, the MBA student in me was still whispering in my ears and saying these cards can be good investments that could bring back huge returns if I do it wisely and somehow be lucky enough to pull a prized memorabilia. And guess what?
More than the excitement, social, and investment side of it, I believe that hobbies like this can also improve our wellbeing since it can take our minds off the strains and pressures that comes from adult living. That even for a moment, we can go back to what we previously had prior pandemic, that feeling of normalcy that COVID-19 has taken away from us.
