I have experienced much of my life going through something I call "stages of small obsessions." I tend to be one of those people who gets overly enthusiastic about some kind of product, clothing, genre, food, music, author or trend in general for a few weeks until the next obsession comes about.
For the past three weeks, the trends in my life have been: the show "Parks and Recreation," Smoothie King Lean1 Smoothies, flair pens, audiobooks, stand-up comedy, Dunkin Donuts, and jade/emerald green accessories.
I found myself falling into a deep depression after Christmas when I had finished watching every episode of "Parks and Recreation." After searching for a new show with similar qualities and finding nothing that seemed to satisfy my preferred mix of comic genius, I found myself rewatching the entire series from the beginning. The premier of season seven has been a blessing.
Many times I have wondered if others go through a series of weekly to monthly obsessions. For me, they usually come in the form of simple preferences such as the desire to only cook crockpot recipes for two weeks straight or only wanting to use a particular brand of pen.
The nature of these small obsessions is that they don't stick around. I grow tired, for example, of having to handwash the crockpot every night, so its falls by the wayside to be replaced by another idiosyncratic need such as fleece leggings or tea tree moisturizer. Much of my problem is fueled by a slight shopping problem and Pinterest.
One of my greatest stress relievers is walking into a store to buy something new or just to browse among the many items, each one promising some sort of inspiration or a better experience. Sometimes it is just re-energizing to buy new things whether it be jeans or new pack of paper towels.
I have always had this slight shopping problem. My mother used to say that, when I was a small child, as soon as we entered any type of store, from Home Depot to Toys R Us, I would race through the store, looking for a toy or item that I would then fervently convince her to buy.
When I worked at Hamilton Place mall, I found it relaxing to shop in the various stores during my lunch break, while many other workers wanted to get as far away from the retail environment as quickly as possible.
Pinterest fuels my small obsessions by giving me access, encouragement and a community for whatever product piques my current interest anytime, anywhere. Pinterest also creates obsessions.
For example, I never knew that tulle skirts could be so pretty, which then leads to my obsession with the fabric itself, which further creates an obsession for tulle crafts such as bows and Christmas ornaments. Before I knew it, my Pinterest board was filled with pictures of this seemingly magnificent fabric, and I found myself searching for it in the fabric aisle of Wal-Mart. Without Pinterest, I would have never given tulle a thought.
Occasionally, a small obsession will stick and become a bigger part of my life. Apple products were that way. I thought my need -- or extreme want -- for a MacBook in college would eventually become a passing fad, but that computer and my love for other products created by Apple led me to a job that became a very important part of my life. Now, I just wish that exercise would stick in the same way.
Small obsessions also can create memories. Occasionally while looking at old pictures, I have thought something like "Oh no, that was the time I was really into orange headbands," and it brings me immediately back to that time in my life.
Even though these trends might stimulate a "what was I thinking moment," they also serve as anchors to help us remember, reflect on, or laugh about wonderful, silly memories. So I will continue to embrace my small obsessions.
Contact Corin Harpe at corinharpe@gmail.com.