The simple truth is, I can’t handle Pinterest. That takes some courage to admit, since everyone knows that you consult Pinterest to find out what is going on, you know, to see what the latest in trends are.
When I start sniffing around Pinterest, I become gripped in a strangle hold of fascination. All the beautiful people with their beautiful ideas and beautiful lives in beautiful pictures. Suddenly I realize that I must be the world’s most un-creative person ever.
For starters, my house is all wrong. Not only is my decorating sooo 20th century, but my house isn’t big enough and the windows aren’t big enough, and all the furniture is arranged around the walls. In fact, it isn’t even the right house.
I move on to the food pins, and find that I can no longer cook. I thought I nourished my family fairly well until now, but I am paralyzed by this vista of foods I never even heard of. Apparently my life will always be incomplete until I have mastered the art of sushi. I humbly acknowledge that I am in culinary preschool.
Neither am I a good mother anymore. I haven’t ever made a lollipop bouquet. I just hand out the lollipops. There are days and days worth of fun activities to do with my children. What is wrong with me that I never thought of this stuff? Boring old Peek Around the Corner and I Spy, that’s what we do.
The photo shoots… well, suffice it to say that my photography skills stink. I really should learn to edit my pictures so that we would have beautiful memories too. Yes?
I don’t repurpose old tee shirts, except as rags. Who knew that you could do so many different things with them? And my fashion sense? Well, let’s just say I feel fairly confident that I can tell when an outfit works versus when it looks tried, but my style is pretty understated and I don’t tend to wear orange stripes with purple plaid and a green scarf.
I emerge from the dark hole that swallowed me and realize that I just swallowed a bunch of lies. I have not been able to scoot around Pinterest without comparing myself and my life with all the other lives. The Apostle Paul has something to say about that. He says it is not wise. Then there is the indisputable fact that, having been given 5 precious children, I am called to be a keeper at home. I cannot afford the time it takes to gallivant through everyone else’s houses every day. Nor can I indulge myself in the twin sins of ungratefulness and covetousness. When I have a specific thing to research, like a birthday cake for a small boy, or what to cook with kale, then Pinterest is a great tool. Otherwise, it is better for me to stay out.
I found this bit of meaningful advice for people like me. It is the counter balance on the Pinterest scale for me.
wocket in my pocket 
This really was a message from God to me today! If you could have seen the thoughts I’ve wrestled with in the last two days you might agree with me:) I really like the last bit of advice from Lowell Bennion…… Social media does nothing to feed contentment, quite the opposite……although, I must admit, there’s still something I do enjoy about skimming pinterest every once in awhile:)
Haha! Dorcas you are funny! (my comment was getting so long that I decided to blog in response to this) 🙂
I went through this very thing when Farm & Ranch Magazines etc was the rage.
Totally agree!!! I don’t do pinterest, but I still know what it’s like! It is so easy to compare myself to everyone else, and think that I just don’t have it… I really liked that piece of advice at the end… learn to like the simple things… 🙂 I really enjoy your blog! Blessings!
That is my stand with it too. I like to occasionally skim for an idea I need as well as having a place to pin the things I really want to remember. (There really is a lot of helpful tools on there.:-) But I know the time it takes, which I rarely have, and the feelings of inadequacy it can produce so it is something I have safeguarded for myself. Thanks for the encouragement. This has been a good reminder for me too.
I personally find pinterest a seed bed for creativity, and a tool. As a lover of beauty, I am fascinated with the beauty and creativity of people (which often points me the the Creator of the brains and talents of said creative people) that said, I get your point, and I only browse about once a week 🙂 El, looking forward to what you have to say in your blog! 🙂
That is why I call you when I need advice about the look/rightness of things. You don’t make me feel stupid, but you just sort of know stuff… 😉
Well said, Dorcas! I simply don’t go there, as much as I admire creativity and beauty. God is teaching me the freedom of being who HE created me to be and I find that fulfillment in seeking Him, not in perusing the world wide web. 🙂 And what about the dishonesty?… What you see is such a small portion of reality and it is all too easy to create an online persona that is simply not real. The truth -about ourselves and about our God- is what sets us free! Blessings!