Pinterest Addiction: Self-discovery and the act of pinning

I’ve been using Pinterest for a few weeks now and will readily admit that I’m a bit addicted. It’s sort of become my zen moment. It’s a nice break in the middle of a work day (and night) full of conference calls, multiplying emails, research, proposal writing, etc, etc.. But today, as I was pinning a few things I looked at my boards and realized that pinning can be a form of self-discovery and/or confirm a belief someone might have suspected about themselves. I know it sounds funny, but it’s true.

In my case it was my “For the Home” board. I stared at the 14 minimized boards, I realized that except for the very cool shower, my home decor board was empty.

Books, clothes, funny photos, motivational quotes, and fitness tips- all boards that are flowing with information. Obviously, things that are important to me. A home and its decor, not so much. But for me, this isn’t self-discovery, it’s simply confirmation of my incurable case of wanderlust. Buying things, even dreaming about buying things that will create a home is almost the equivalent of being shackled. I don’t know how I feel about that. Wanderlust, a free spirit, it’s equally a gift and a curse. It’s my heart against my mind. Instinct against logic.

But I digress.

As I realized that my boards give the world an idea of who I am, I started looking at others’ boards with a different eye. Fascinated to see that a good friend, whom I’ve never seen in anything that looks remotely like a dress or skirt, was pinning beautiful dresses. This a completely different revelation than mine. While I’m known to be a wanderer and my board confirmed it, hers maybe spoke more of who she longs to be.

OR, maybe, just maybe I’m reading too much into it all and Pinterest and pinning simply provide a nice break; just another thing on the internet to help us pass waste time.