When I watch your channel, I don't see a fountain pen innfluencer who's saying, " look at me, and what I have", I see someone who enjoys pens so much, that you want to share your joy and reach out to others. Your happiness with pens and inks, comes out through the screen.

Great that you have found a clear perspective and balance in your life. You know I buy less expensive pens than many collectors and have come to appreciate the high end priced pens I see on KZfaq without feeling the need to buy them for myself. It’s all about the balance and maintaining a certain restraint for me…and knowing that I can do that in itself brings me joy as I continue to use all my pens in all my journals……. thank you for the thoughtful and honest insightful video.x

As a mental health professional myself, I agree with you. Social media has definitely made it to where we feel that we need it. No, we don't. We just want it. Being mindful and giving ourselves some grace will benefit us in the long run. Thank you for such a thought-provoking video. I so enjoyed it. ❤

Thanks for your candor, Lao. Unfortunately, I thought my fountain pen exploration stopped at my gold nibbed Pilot Elite, but I made the terrible mistake of trying out a Sailor Profit Standard, and ended up loving the nib tuning. I think the saving grace of Sailors is that they’re basically two body styles replicated over and over again, so my anxious aversion toward owning redundant/overlapping items prevents me from collecting them obsessively. I’m learning to have what I want, and want what I have. I also deleted my social media accounts a couple of years ago, so I can limit my intake of FOMO-triggering content more effectively. Own your items, don’t let them own you.

It takes much courage to speak from such a raw, authentic place in one’s journey, not just the pen pilgrimage, but life in general. This is the video I didn’t expect, but it has raised the bar for me to filter all other channels. #keepingUSreal thank you always, for your efforts to make our community better every day 🙏🏻💕

This was an excellent video. Thank you for saying that fountain pen cost is relative to the buyer. That one sentence seems to be lost on people. Rachelle in Seattle

I think those burnouts are "needed" like focus on fountain pens and journaling that takes our minds to happier places eventhough many other people may not agree. For me, your videos, your kind answers, your hobby, your shares, all are to me like a good friend and the only fountain pen fanatic with whom I can share since nobody near me enjoys it. Thank you Leo❤🎉🖋️🎨📖

Hi Lao! This was such an enjoyable video and relatable for me, not so much for fountain pen burnout specifically, but more generally about burnout and how it affects all parts of your life. Glad you've made it through a tough period in your life and are doing well. Always enjoy seeing your pens but this was also nice to get to know you a bit more, as I think a lot of pen people likely have more in common. Long comment to make up for all your videos I watch and enjoy without commenting 😆

Hello! I loved this video! I’m 14 months into this hobby and I am so thankful I met you last year during my journey. I’m thankful I didn’t start fast and furious into pen hobby but let’s not talk about the ink addiction. As healthcare workers we do go through periods of burnout. Thank God for fountain pen hobby! As I meet more people in this hobby I do see the burnout in others but I do notice that conversations and fountain pens do help heal others. Always thankful for all of your content! Stay healthy and awesome my friend…😊

Great video dear Ken! I have not yet reached a burnout with fountain pens. I have found so much joy in this hobby and it centres me after stressful day. I love the fountain pen and journaling community! I found the most fascinating and beautiful friend… friends for life! ❤❤❤❤

I have thought long and hard about buying an expensive pen: for me the writing experience and the ink is what gives me pleasure. I buy very inexpensive pens, tune the nibs myself and perfer to spend my money on good paper and ink. If I damage a pen, it wont matter! This is the first video I have watched and it made such a refresing change from the consumerist slant of many vidos I have seen. Subscribed! 💙💚💛

Thanks for your words of wisdom about avoiding burnout in life. It’s a touchy topic for me as I am currently battling some major life changes and disappointments whilst enduring busy season at work. I haven’t felt burnout re my fountain pens as yet. I think that happens when you place unnecessary stress or conditions on the hobby. Time with my pens either journaling or other wise fiddling with nibs etc is supposed to be my relax time from an otherwise stressful life.

Thank you for this beautiful video, Lao. I appreciated hearing your story over fountain pen burn out, and how you have been able to integrate this hobby with other factors in your life. 💗 Also, as a side note, your example of wanting curly hair - that resonated a little too well with me. I once went so far as to pay for a perm so that I could have curly/wavy hair. It was so challenging to maintain, that it really taught me to appreciate what I have. And, it hasn’t stopped me from admiring wild, curly hair. I think that’s where I’m at right now with fountain pens - I adore learning about and discovering fountain pens from others, so when I inevitably want to add/take away pens from my collection, it will add to my anticipation and excitement. 🥰

Thank you for this. As a lifelong yearner and over spender, your words are a wonderful reminder. ❤

As many have said, what a great video. That impulse to buy and get the jolt of joy from acquiring can be so strong. So appreciate your honesty and also strategies to deal with that feeling. A phrase that always sticks with me and helps slow me down is feelings aren’t reality and feelings are temporary. So that pen I must have might be temporary as well. Thanks for making such a thoughtful video 😊 I still collect but like you I try to slow down.

Burnout is so real! It sucks when your hobbies no longer bring you joy even though you put so much time and effort into it 😢❤

I knew I liked you and now I know why!! I’m also a therapist and a fountain pen lover!! Thank you for your candor and vulnerability!! Very wise words!!

Thank you for talking about this! I watch a lot of pen and stationery content for work and constantly wish I had the funds for all the beautiful things. I do really love what I already have and I find so much joy in them. You have such a great mindset - we can't judge each other when seeing what other people have.

I really enjoy the vibe you put out in your videos. You always express such genuine gratitude and excitement for your pens, inks, and writing accessories. Like you said, it's about a journey and evaluating priorities at any given moment. Most people, unless they're millionaires, start out with budget pens and don't graduate to really expensive pens overnight (if ever). We also tend to appreciate what we have in any hobby or interest if we gradually acquire those items and slowly learn more and more over a long time, instead of buying dozens of items in a few months and spending eight hours a day researching that subject (as tempting as that can be!). I currently have 33 fountain pens (two of which are still unopened in a box), plus my dip pen and one pen I hope to be ordering very soon, and they each mean something to me, whether it's because I just liked the color/pattern, related to their symbolism, or got it for myself as a gift. It's the same way my stretched ears (now 14/15 mm) mean so much to me, since it took me several years and a lot of patience to get to this size. It'll take maybe five more to reach my dream goal of an inch, because I want to spend a year at each major size to just appreciate the experience of being there. Slow and steady wins the race with everything!

Thanks for your insights, Lao. As a person with ADHD, burnout is a very real possibility in many areas of my life. I have learned how to step back and make changes when I see signs of burnout coming in. I think self-awareness, honesty with ourselves, and self compassion are all critical parts of achieving and maintaining balance.

I truly enjoyed your honest overview and the sentiments about your journey, as well as your respect for the fountain pen journey for others. I wasn't going to buy any pens in May (after I reflected like you on being more thoughtful overall about my life, FP journey and finances) and yet, my grail pen came up and I impulsively bought it before it disappeared. Although I don't totally regret it, it has made me anxious about the expense. Your video is a good reminder that others struggle with the same things and I can keep growing on my FP journey (even if I get off track at times).

Perfectly stated. I think you hit all the appropriate points. No judgement at all no matter the number of pens, style or price point.

That's not a burnout. That's a heallthy natural progression when one focuses for a long time on something. It comes a moment in which you may have already achieved your goals, or in which your goals change. I enjoy very much seeing new pens, but let me tell you what I appreciate the most from your videos: it is your knowledge acquired with all the pens and inks you bought. Because I only have a few, I struggle to know which inks are wet, or dry, and how they behave in different pens. I'd love to see from you more videos about the most saturated ones and how they behave in different nibs, the ones with most sheen, or the shimmer ones by colours, or the dryiest ones, the wettest, the ones that fade after several months, the best cartridges, the best ink bottles....You are in a great position to help us with what you already have. Your passion, effort and dedication are your best assets. But above all, do what it makes you happy.

Of all the fountain pen channels, yours is the most "real" and pen joy focused. You know A LOT about pens and I love to learn from you about pens, nibs, grinds... I don't see fountain pens as a hobby, for me they are everyday writing tools. I learned to write with a fountain pen, it was required where I grew up. And to this day I prefer to write with a fountain pen. I am not even that ancient too 😂. Through watching stuff, learning and the desire to just try something different, I also got to a "burn out" phase if you will. Though I don't call it that. I simply call it getting over the idea that just because something is more expensive and just because others find something to be great, it doesn't mean it is great for me. I got one "expensive" (though nothing compared to the crazy money some folks on these channels here spend - my "expensive" pen was $200) and realized it's absolutely is not worth the money. Not one bit. It doesn't write any better than the few $30 pens from the same brands do, it is not made of any better materials (in my opinion, it feels like the same cheap plastic the others are made of, though it's said to be made of "resin" 🙄), it's more of a pain in the rear to clean... So that's how my love affair with expensive pens ended. Unless they are made of true precious metals, and I am not talking of just the nib, but the whole pen, which then I will definitely not be able to afford, I am not interested on spending more than $50 on a pen. End of story. My most favorite pen to write with is a $10 🤷‍♀. There is one very expensive pen that I want and will one day buy, but it's just this one specific pen brand that carries a sentimental value and I don't plan on getting it anytime soon because of it four figure price and because I have better things/experiences to spend money on. So I totally align with your stance on fountain pens. If someone loves them, can afford the expensive stuff - more power to them and I will be all happy for them and listen to them nerd out about it for hours. But I will not feel bad about my favorite cheap pen either 😁. I write with my pens every day and will always love writing with them.

I loved the little one speaking all of a sudden in your video😂😂❤❤❤👼🍼

great video as always. Lots of good thoughts to keep in mind as we navigate this “hobby” with the emphasis that this is a hobby and should be fun and enjoyable and not stressful or overwhelming. to remember you don’t have to keep up with the joneses but enjoy what you have and what you want to do. well done. thank you.

I just found your channel and I appreciate your honesty about job burnout, relationship issues and issues relating to the facets of fountain pen ownership. I am a retired social worker and know how exhausting it can be to always be giving your time and energy to help others. I find your candor extremely refreshing. Good for you for dealing with difficult issues in your life and sharing it here! I will continue to watch your channel. I am in the fountain pen 'rabbit hole' currently but am climbing out of it and taking back my control. Thank you for this great video!

Thank you for sharing your experience and approach. (You already know my thoughts on this from our conversation.☺️) Please continue to take care Lao! 🧡

Thank you for this very insightful video! 💖

This was a wonderful video. Thank you so much for sharing ❤

All the best to you all for sharing hospitality and new home.

Words of wisdom. Thank you.

No need to edit out your family. Its so sweet youre able to be all together for a time:)

Thank you Lao for another wonderful video. I'm at the beginning of my fountain pen journey, so can't imagine fountain pen burnout. I enjoy listening to you cover these important topics. Thank you again!

I also find fulfillment and joy in fountain pens. Thank you for your insightful thoughts discussing this topic in our community.

Thanks for a thoughtful presentation. To me, these are spiritual issues. Writing with fountain pens slows me down, and I am more deliberate when I write with them. There is a beauty in the pen, the ink and the paper, and in my expressed thoughts. Acquiring pens and inks and papers, can be thoughtful and deliberate and their acquisition helps me to express myself. But there is a danger. If I yield to temptations of consumerism, unreflective accumulation or buying in order to fit in with some marketer or influencer’s ideas and not my own, then I’ve betrayed myself. In that situation, I’ve become just another buyer, and I’ve invested in things, rather than in myself. It is easy to fall in to this trap, where too much is never enough, where I get my sense of self worth from the things I have, and where I judge myself by the standards of others (even people I’ve never met). And of course, all this must be balanced with everything and everyone else in my life.

I love every second of this. The comparison trap is so true with all the things (not just pens); you never know peoples' life situation, the whole story. The judgement of it all was right on point too. Thanks so much for weighing in on all of this. Loved hearing your perspective. (and i'm right there with you - I like my $$$ pens but I AM CHEAP. and probably got it at a stupid deal 🤣)

Sum up, you do you, don't obsess, dollars bears nothing on your pen joy, and be kind to yourself.

Enjoyed this very much. Yes, I'm judgmental, and you pointing out makes me realize that I need to work on that. Looking forward to seeing you in person at SF.

Great takes. It’s basically about money. Fountain pens are extremely expensive and going down that rabbit hole can break you. Difference between a Montblanc and a Pilot G-2 is basically hype and marketing. The Pilot is basically a better writer and you’ll never have buyers remorse. If you have excess income pen collecting is a great hobby. 👈

Great video! You hit on all the points. I admit I sometimes envy other people's ability to acquire gorgeous fountain pens, but I'm able to quickly convert that to happiness for them. I have decided I'm more of a second-hand pen girl unless it is an indie maker pen. I like the treasure hunt. I am also trying to buy pens that are more my style than being influenced by others who have a totally different aesthetic. The journey has been interesting.

I would love to hear your views on current pricing. It would also like to hear your buying strategies on purchasing under full retail.

I almost never get on social media at all. I buy what I like, what I want, an din life what we WANT is every bit as important as what we need. I've had hundreds of fountain pens, though not by intent, and I sold them all, bought almost as many, and finally settled on twelve pens I love. Those twelve pens cost a total of almost $35,000 dollars. But I also enjoy cheap pens, I just don't count them as part of my collection. I love TWSBI pens, for example, and after seventy years of living, I've learned that frugality is the enemy of a happy life. EVERY pen is worth whatever it costs. Everything in this life is worth whatever it costs. Trying to get things cheaper is fine, if the price is legitimately lowered as in a sale, but thinking a pen, or anything else, isn;'t worth the price on it is NOT being frugal, it is being cheap, and that is a destructive way to live life. If t you can't afford something, fine, but don't ever use the excuse that it isn't worth the price. Of course, it's worth the price. Not being able to afford it has no bearing on its worth. What far too many people simply don't know how to do is SAVE MONEY. Saving money to buy something expensive that you want is pain free, if done right. That pen, or new car, or gold-plated set of golf clubs doesn't have to be bought today, or next month, or even next year. But if it's something ewe really, really want it SHOULD be bought, even if it takes five years to save the money.

I started getting a little burnout or overwhelm when I had too many pens that I wasn’t using for my journaling. I decided to try to learn how to draw and sketch with my pens-inspired by the beautiful fountain pen art by @Karynalovestoplan.