This holiday season, we decided we would go to the nines in terms of holiday decorating. We polished the silver, dug out the china, bought some beautiful deco water goblets on eBay, and did a host of things to make it really special. Regular readers know that I am a big advocate for doing it right when it comes to holidays. We invited our youngest daughters friends over to the house. The response was fascinating. On one hand, it was clear that they came from paper plate and plastic cup homes, so the fancy china and particularly cloth napkins really blew them away. The flip side was that the girls manners and in particular the pleases and thank yous jumped dramatically. The girls really seemed to enjoy the experience and the idea of fancy dining. I have spent a considerable amount of time considering this and realize that part of our failing as collectors in inspiring future generations of collectors is not using our collections. I reflect upon the collector that I knew who had a fabulous collection but never shared it with his family. They knew nothing of it and never used the items. They were to look at it like a museum, and with the result when the collector passed, the family could not wait to sell the pieces. When I talked to the collector about it all, he commented that condition was everything and so to use the items meant that something might get broken with the result that the value of the collection would be diminished. While I understand the preservation of items, it strikes me as problematic to hoard items without taking into account people. With our silver and china and glass, we do run the risk of something getting broken, but the result is that our kids, and now their friends, are getting an appreciation and interest in such antiques. I leave you with the thought that if we as collectors fail to excite others in collecting, that not only will this impact the hobby as a whole but more to the point it will drive down the value of our own holdings. Passing collections is not just about the joy of collecting but it is also about passing assets that will grow in value. If our children see collections as things never to be touched or used, then they will sell those items often for the lowest possible amount. So, I encourage you to dig out your collections and consider using the pieces with your family. Inspire them as collectors to use their treasures rather than to have them sit on a shelf. Peter Seibert, a native Pennsylvanian, grew up in the antiques business and remains closely tied to auction houses, collectors, and dealers. Professionally, he has served as a museum director and public historian in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Virginia, and Wyoming. He holds a Master of Arts in American Studies from Penn State and has authored two books and numerous articles on decorative arts, interior design, and history.