pinterestwithapurpose

story by | kirsten jensen

Recently I was chatting with a friend. We talked about several of the home improvement projects she’s completed and our conversation moved to Pinterest. She asked me, “So, how many of your pins have you actually made?” At the time, I said that I had made a few things; but certainly not even a small fraction of the nearly 2,500 pins on my boards. For a moment I felt a little guilty. Why was I really spending time on Pinterest to create only a few of the items I’d pinned? Why do I love this addicting tool, anyway? It inspired me to reflect on how I’m using Pinterest.

self-disclosure

One of my top strengths in the Gallup StrengthsFinder is “input” [learn more about the StrengthsFinder assessment at www.strengthsfinder.com]. I like to collect things and information most of all. Pinterest is a lovely, clutter-free way to indulge this strength and it gives me the ability to share at the same time.

I have to admit that I went through a phase where I was bored by Pinterest. It was after the initial obsession of madly repinning every tasty-sounding recipe and cute outfit and before I found the focus that would keep my interest. As I write this, I have 72 boards on Pinterest with nearly 2,500 pins. Let me share the focuses that have created a sustainable purpose for Pinterest in my life and may help you as well [check out my Pinterest boards at www.pinterest.com/kmjensen27]: share my obsessions My life’s quest involves several obsessions at any given time. I get great joy out of sharing what I learn with others. I have several boards that are meant to share what I’ve learned and inspire others:

• Leadership Books

• My Favorite Apps

• My Favorite Books

• Tea Lover curate lists of things just because i love them Sometimes I just collect things because I love to look at them. They make me happy. Pinterest is a perfect, clutter-free way to collect things I love. Things that make me smile. Here are a few:

• For the Love of Dr. Seuss

• Penguins

• Trees

• Fargo

• Socks collect inspiration Pinterest is a great place to gather and save the things that inspire you. To have a quick place to go refocus, center, get an attitude adjustment. Here are a few of my Pinterest refuges:

• Centering

• Peaceful

• Great Quotes geek out I’m a self-proclaimed gadget girl. I love having a place to declare my love for my favorite gadgets or to dream of gadgets I might get someday:

• Geek

• Products I Love

• iPhone and iPad accessories collect things that my kids love It’s a fun [and free!] mother-son activity to search for the things the boys love and “collect” them on Pinterest. A few of my boards have this inspiration:

• Legos

• Pokemon

• Adventure Time food I do love all the recipes on Pinterest. I find I love it more by staying focused on particular types of cooking or baking that inspire me [I do also have a catch-all “food” board, if things don’t fit in these categories]. Or I’ll create a board just for that ingredient I have a ton of at a particular time, such as rhubarb. The “Everything Bundt” board was created as I searched for the perfect dish to bring to a bundt-themed potluck party:

• Crockpot

• Freezer Cooking

• Muffins

• Sweets

• Everything Bundt

• Rhubarb inspire traditions and holiday fun Pinterest is clearly a treasure chest of great ideas for every holiday. I have found [and actually done!] some great activities with my boys. This Christmas we will be starting several new traditions inspired by others on Pinterest. I hope these traditions will help us enjoy more of the holidays and create lasting memories for my boys:

• Traditions

• One for each holiday [Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Halloween, etc.]

So it’s true that I’ve only made a handful or two of crafts and recipes from Pinterest. But it certainly has inspired me to try more recipes and crafts than I would have otherwise. And I have found so many ways to get joy and inspiration from this social tool—and I hope you will too. Thanks, Pinterest!

Raised in Fosston, MN, Kirsten moved to Fargo-Moorhead to attend Concordia College and has made it her home ever since. She is married and a proud mom to two boys, Davis [9] and Reid [5], who provide the best Facebook status updates. This past year Kirsten has rekindled her love of writing through her blog, www.kirstensdigitallife.com, which often features posts combining her two favorite topics - technology and parenting. Kirsten's deep passion for the intersection of communication and technology led her to Onsharp, where she is currently Director of Digital Marketing. Her current obsessions are apps, audiobooks, tea, and meditation.