Once again the urge to write ends up with me on the
internet, scrolling through Google Reader, checking the sales on F21 and Free
People, and checking in on my old stomping ground, College Fashion. A wasted
opportunity.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the internet. Without it, how
would I be so inspired? Between Pinterest and the many love ladies whose blogs
I read on a regular basis, I never run out of ideas. But here’s where the
problem comes in—so often my inspiration never makes it to the doing phase
because I’m wasting time on the internet collecting even more “inspiration.” I
pin outfit after outfit but don’t take the time with my own clothes to
thoughtfully combine them. I decorate my house on Pinterest but the poster I’ve
been meaning to hang since the honeymoon is still propped against the wall.
Perhaps this is strictly a problem with me, as I do suffer
from a lack of discipline to stop looking at pretty things and go make and do
pretty things. Either way, I believe that an artistic life needs to intersect
with the internet only briefly, glancingly even, because life, especially an
artistic one, cannot be lived digitally. The internet is a fabulous tool, but I
must use it consciously, rather than letting it use me. There must be balance,
as in all things.
Maybe everyone else has gotten the balancing act down, but
I’m still working on it. I find it a lot easier to mindlessly absorb than to
purposefully create, and that’s one thing I am working daily to change. It’s
time to start using the inspiration I find and then passing it on to others.
Art is gift giving to your audience, and it’s time I start
focusing on the gift.
peace&love,
Jill
I go through times where I collect more inspiration than actually doing anything creative. And then I go back to doing more than collecting ... back and forth. You're right, though. The internet can be so distracting!
ReplyDeleteIndeed! I know I've suffered from Pinterest burn out. Pin less, do more is a worthy motto for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm suffering from Pinterest overload, too. I have tons of inspiration, but instead of being proactive I'm stagnate. One of my goals this year is to actually take the inspiration and GET INSPIRED. I will admit that Pinterest has inspired me to try new recipes and several new hairstyles, but I haven't really tried any new outfits. I'm glad I'm not alone!
ReplyDeleteChandra
http://www.momomod.com
You are so right! I feel the same way about the Internet a lot of the times. But somehow I still end up wasting hours upon hours that aren't really productive, even though without it I wouldn't have one of the awesome things that I love in my life - my blog. Thanks for this reminder!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Laura
http://lauraisthriftingthroughlife.blogspot.com