I See the Crystal Visions
Can a Pinterest collage really help improve my life?
How do you feel about New Year’s resolutions?
I, for one, have never been a fan. For starters, my “new year” never arrives on January 1. My mother’s birthday is on January 5, so holiday mode doesn’t shut off until all twelve days of Christmas have passed and my mom has been properly celebrated. If I do want to resolve to do (or not do) something, I always end up feeling behind, which puts me off it completely. Beyond this, I don’t appreciate the pressure that often comes with making a resolution. Just because I opened a fresh calendar, I have to overhaul something in my life? No, thank you!
Some of this is undoubtedly entangled with my distaste for change. Even though I know that it doesn’t always have to be problematic. Occasionally it can be for the better, especially when done thoughtfully. With this in mind, I dipped my toe into a different kind of New Year activity: vision boards.
A vision board is pretty much what it sounds like, a collage meant to represent the goals you hope to achieve and the dreams you hope will come true. Psychologists and career coaches who use them in their practice find them to be a helpful tool in unlocking deeper aspirations, connecting your conscious and unconscious thoughts. They can help people feel more confident and positive by setting off a spark of optimism. Given where I left off in 2024, this isn’t the worst thing to inject into my outlook.
The first step in making a vision board is to set a timeline. Usually, people are encouraged to make one at the start of a new year or a birthday. These events are thought to mark turning points, but a break-up or a big move could be a catalyst. You then need to have a think on the timeline for your dreams, keeping a sense of urgency in mind. I decided to look ahead twelve months. Any longer felt too terrifying.
Once you have your timeline, the next part involves looking through magazines or online and trying to hone in on what sparks your interest the most. During this process it can be helpful to listen to music or to ask yourself questions. How are you feeling? What kind of energy are your choices giving off? What’s drawing you in? Allow time to do so in a comforting space.
If this sounds hokey to you, don’t worry. I was in the same boat. I mean, three hours to scroll the internet and flip through old issues of Cosmo? Who can do that! Then a little voice in the back of my head tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me: people who are serious about realizing their greatest desires, the kind of person you want to become. So I sighed, opened a tab on Chrome, and brought up my Pinterest account. I mostly use it for Wine & Pine graphics and, on rare occasions, work projects. This has resulted in an interesting algorithm for content. But nonetheless, I got to it.
Because I did this while travelling, the traditional option of poster board, scissors, and glue sticks wasn’t an option. Instead, I went to my much beloved Canva account, which actually has vision board templates. And then I made way for the manifestation gods to inspire me.
The process did take a while, during which time I watched Hallmark movies and drank tea. It reminded me a lot of when I used to create collages for my notebooks in school, covering them in photos of my favorite places, concert ticket stubs from seeing bands, and hotel room keys used on vacations. Happy stuff to keep me motivated in between the doldrums of physics lab or religion class. Going through the Pinterest pictures now also made me set aside thoughts of catching up on emails at work and my usual existential dread. Instead, I actually felt a smile twist onto my face.
Once I’d compiled a hundred or so pins—among them inspirational quotes, fun outfits, and cute corgis—I arranged the images into Canva templates. Five slides worth. They’re actually inserted throughout this newsletter. Scroll back up and take a look.
You probably spotted a few common themes. Big collared blouses, reading/writing books, and the bountiful red curls Julia Roberts sported circa 1990. I want to bake more and relearn the guitar and adopt a corgi. That all definitely speaks to my aesthetic, material goals. Looking closely, though, there’s a ton going on in these boards emotionally. Some of it circles back to the idea of change. Examining the words that spoke to me, I noticed change was almost always paired with fear. Perhaps that is a more accurate description of my feeling toward it than distaste…
There are also lots of images advocating for the prioritization of joy over perfection and general self-acceptance. It makes my fingers cringe just typing something so vulnerable. Because it’s true. I would like to end 2025 with different priorities than I have now, ones that lead to happiness. I think some of that might come from focusing on a few of the things included, and letting go of what I notably left off.
I’m still skeptical over the ability of this activity to revolutionize my life. I think that will come when I finally get out of my own way. But I’m also a person who relies on hope. So I’m setting one of the collages as my desktop wallpaper. It could do nothing. Or it could be the start to my very best year yet. Time will tell.
Rachel’s Weekly Recs:
Love You a Latke by Amanda Elliot is a Hanukkah tale sure to pull on your heartstrings. A grumpy coffee shop owner and her sunniest customer work together on a Vermont small town holiday festival, with a little fake dating plot along the day. Perfect for a cozy night in.
Speaking of cozy, my mom gave me a heated blanket. Just plug it in, click the remote, and enjoy hours of warmth under fleece-y comfort. And don’t worry: if it gets too hot, it’s automatically programmed to switch off for safety.
Your last essential for a winter night is a stuffed buddy. I’d suggest Delia Duck from Jellycat. I’m sure her grumpy grin can be turned upside down if brought into a loving home and given a great big cuddle.