We all love our social media outlets and spend an absurd about of time each day worrying about “likes” on profile pictures. Or, we worry about who has taken too long to respond to texts and what the next photo to post on instagram next. That being said, all of the typical social media sites have taken a back seat in my life these days to make room for my somewhat unhealthy Pinterest addiction. I have heard this site talked about for a year, even browsed it myself on occasion, but it wasn’t until recently that it took hold of all my free time.
I’ve always been artistic, and loved crafting, but it was always something that took up a blow-off class period in high school, a rainy Sunday, and now an excuse to take fun classes in college (yay art and design minor). But, it wasn’t until over spring break that I discovered the real magic. On a normal Saturday afternoon before returning to school, I was watching Netflix, thinking of every excuse in the book to not start the homework I said I was going to work on over break.
In a spontaneous and vivid flash of creativity, which obviously sparked from the extreme boredom and well practiced skill of procrastination that I am lucky enough to possess, I decided to paint a map of America on my bedroom wall. I need to add that my wall is already relatively patchwork-y, with paint swatches and friends signatures from a few memorable crazy nights when parents were out of town. I decided that it couldn’t get any more sporadic looking, and that I wanted the walls of my childhood bedroom to reflect who I am and what is important to me.
This map that I planned to paint would be freehanded, one solid color, and eventually would have photos from various excursions around the country tacked up in the appropriate locations. Without mentioning this plan to my mother, I set out to complete the first step in my last minute task. I found a map of the states and began to enlarge it on my wall. After that was done I presented the idea to my mother not as a question, but as a plan in progress. Later that day I went to Home Depot to buy the correct wall paint and got working.
This map distraction from work led to the addiction I was talking about: Pinterest. Since this project of mine, I have created boards on boards on boards for projects for my wall, future apartments and random crafts. Some of my other plans for my walls include painting the shadow of Peter Pan on my ceiling just because I think its funny, and related to my childhood, a city scape outline along a wall to show my love for Chicago, a dreamcatcher above my bed because why not, and a few sentences from the beginning of Star Wars because I am definitely a nerd at heart.
Since this addiction began, the Pinterest tab on my computer has not closed (so this is almost 3 weeks running). It’s what I turn to when I’m bored in class, not in the mood to do work, and what I do before bed on the off chance I’ve finished all my work early. While this wonderful site has taken up a large amount of my time, I can’t say I regret any of it. Rather than caring about likes on instagrams, who is or isn’t texting me, or what photos people are posting on facebook, I have let the creative juices flow. This addiction comes highly recommended, has allowed me to regain a connection with an old passion of mine, and serves as a great outlet that doesn’t come along with any drama or baggage.
Photo Sources:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453878468677422245/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453878468677422017/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453878468677421708/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/453878468677421702/