A friend and I have been discussing how easy it is to get sucked into a perfect Pinterest mindset. Most Pins are visually stunning – from perfect looking food to perfect looking home décor to perfect looking crafts and perfect looking outfits.
The problem with this Pinterest Perfect ideal is that life is far from perfect.
- If my meals taste amazing, they don’t look perfect.
- My clean house can look close to perfect for only so long before dishes begin to pile up, toys are scattered on the floor, and my stray hair is scattered around my bathroom.
- As a non-crafty person, I can guarantee any Pinterest craft I attempt will look far from perfect.
- And the same goes for Pinterest-inspired outfits: they may look great online, but lousy on my body.
A perfect example happened late last night. I attempted a Pinterest recipe — gingerbread cupcakes — to take to a women’s brunch this morning. The batter tasted delicious. The baked scent was amazing. Then, once the cupcakes cooled they collapsed and were completely gooey. What a disaster. I was tired, it was nearing 1 in the morning, and I decided just to forget about it. I ended up taking five — yes, FIVE — cupcakes. What an epic fail.
Our lives aren’t airbrushed. They’re messy. Your daughter smears her dirty diaper all over her beautiful white dress. Bugs eat the vegetables in your garden. Your son picks his nose at the dinner table instead of his green beans. A romantic evening you’ve planned for your husband turns into a comedy. You know the kind of real-life experiences I’m talking about, because we’ve all had them.
It’s not easy being green
The same is true with becoming more environmentally friendly. Would it be great to use safe and healthy products all the time? Of course! But does it happen? Not always.
- Some days, the line of ants parading across your kitchen floor is enough to make you scream, and every safe, homemade remedy you’ve tried just isn’t working, so you break down and buy poisonous traps.
- Other days, you run out of your nontoxic shampoo and end up using the little hotel samples that are filled with dangerous ingredients until you make your next shopping trip.
- Or you just don’t have time (or even the desire) to compost.
Life happens. And it’s OK. As long as you’re regularly taking healthy steps — as small as they may be — be grateful. You’re making some sort of a difference.
Just remember that I’m not Pinterest Perfect … and neither are you.
What’s your biggest Pinterest fail?
Latest posts by Hilary Kimes Bernstein (see all)
- The Day I Realized Healthy Choices Don’t Guarantee Health - July 21, 2015
- Avoid Synthetic Bug Sprays with All-Natural Repellents - July 16, 2015
- The Day I Learned I Could Cook Real Food - July 13, 2015
great post! I’m with you, it’s all about the healthy steps!!! :)
I found you through Women Living Well and I’m your newest follower! I love this post and thank you for the reminder! It’s so hard to not be sucked into this world’s idea of perfect and pretty. Fortunately, I serve a God who chose me messy and imperfect and loves me when I still am!
Christie
http://www.facebook.com/satisfactionthroughchrist
I couldn’t help but love this post!!! I’ve tried to do a few things off of Pinterest, and I’ve only gained one good idea so far. However, I still enjoy creating boards filled with ideas.
Thank you, Crystal – I’m glad you loved it. :)
I really enjoy Pinterest and have saved so many great ideas on my boards. Many have turned out, but never quite as pretty or perfect as the pictures.
I really loved this post. I never really realized the trap you could fall into with Pinterest. Pinning all the “Ideal” foods, clothes, crafts, toddler play things…and then you sign off and look at real life and say, “Oh.” Yep. Dangerous. It makes me discontent. Ungrateful. Always itching for more. So dangerous! Thank you for this reminder. Thank you!
I have definitely realized that Pinterest has an effect on me. But more often than not, it has actually been a positive effect. I have gained such great decorating ideas and even a couple recipes off of Pinterest that I may not have found elsewhere.
Granted, if I am already having an “off” day, looking at seemingly perfect lives really doesn’t make me feel any better. Keeping a proper perspective can offset the negatives.