January
It’s January. It’s dark, it’s cold, it’s boring. Well, unless you live in the southern hemisphere, I suppose, when it’s party on the beach time. In which case, you’re probably outside enjoying yourself instead of shivering under the duvet and reading this on a computer screen.
A-n-y-way, since January’s often the month for putting in that special effort to lose weight, learn a new language, write a novel, dig out the paperwork and apply for that license to fly a spaceship to the moon, I’ve been thinking a lot about the notion of inspiration.
Particularly since I’ve been browsing through a new online toy called Pinterest.
This latest addition to the internet playground lets you “pin” pictures, links and lines of text to a virtual pinboard of your own. It’s very quick and easy – and very visual. Like Twitter, you can “follow” people and they can “follow” you but you can also filter their cyber-offerings to only read the things that interest you – and to ditch the things that don’t.
I’m still experimenting with my Pinterest account but at the moment I have boards called Make Me Think, Make Me Smile, Inspire Me, Tempt Me, Show Me, as I do on the home page of this blog. But I also have Show Me Freelance Tips, Books Worth Reading and Places I Love – and I’m open to other suggestions.
Some social media gadgets I use because I feel have to, as a way of keeping my job on the road. Others, like Pinterest, I simply enjoy.
So when a “pin” company contacted me and offered to pay me if I wrote about them, it was one of the few occasions when I didn’t just press delete. We chatted a little more and the idea for a competition came up and with it, the better idea of presenting the cash as a prize instead.
Since January is dark, cold and generally boring (see above) and I’d been pondering the notion of inspiration, that was the theme I was going to run with for this Pinterest competition. I was flirting with the idea of asking you to create your own pinboard on the subject of inspiration – from fluffy pink kittens mewing cute songs in harmony to outrageous rap lyrics with only swear words in them, to heartfelt messages of hope, to those posters that say “Failure. When Your Best Simply Isn’t Good Enough.” Whatever inspires you, basically.
Except, as it turns out, it wasn’t for Pinterest but a suspiciously similar-sounding company with a name and logo as different to Pinterest as a blackout is to a coal mine (forgive the analogy, I’m only just back from Wales.)
So, I cancelled that plan, wished I’d pressed delete earlier and then thought to, er, heck with it (hi mum and young and impressionable folk) I’ll run a competition anyway on my own terms.
The Prizes
Win a copy of the European City Breaks Guide
A luscious copy of the European City Breaks Footprint Guide that features glossy photos, practical information and cultural conversation about cities like London, Seville, Istanbul, Prague and Vienna. I’ve seen a copy and I love it. Love it.
$100USD in Amazon Gift Vouchers – for you to spend as you see fit on your own brand of inspiration.
To Enter
Sign up to any ONE of the following that you like by 14th February. That’s right, any rather than all. Of course, I’d love you to sign up to every single thing on offer and then encourage your friends to do the same but it doesn’t have to be that way. Unless of course, you want it to be…
Join the Monthly-ish Newsletter
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What inspires you in January?
Oh – and if you come across anything inspiring on your cyber travels, let me know about it in the comments section. After all, it’s January, and it is still dark and cold outside.
Hi, I'm Abi, a journalist who swapped a career as a doctor for a life on the road. 
I already follow you on Pinterest, like you on FB, but now I’ve signed up for your newsletter, too! You actually came up yesterday when I was talking to Ken K on the phone about people in the blogosphere we actually admire (and who consistently turn out great work)–just thought I’d pass that along =)
I’ve spent too long on social media – I’d like to “like” or “favorite” that comment! Seriously, thank you ever so much. When I asked for inspiration ideas, I didn’t expect to get such a dose of personalized inspiration :) Cheers!
I was already doing most of the above, but have now added you to Google+. Volunteering to walk dogs at the Humane Society inspires me when it’s cold, since many people stay inside and then the dogs don’t walked as often in colder weather.
Many thanks! That’s a good way to get inspired…as long as you have the discipline to hand the dogs back at the end of the walk. (Confession – we didn’t, and that’s how we got our first dog ;))
I did ALL! :)
Well, muchas GRACIAS! Cheers :)
I already had done them but just signed up for the monthly-ish newsletter. Looking forward to it.
I like Pinterest a lot but am still figuring out how to manage it without it being overwhelming.
That book looks great. Reading about city breaks in Europe sounds heavenly.
Also realized that I was already liking and signed up for almost everything here, but realized I was missing the newsletter so now I’ve come full circle :) Recently signed up for Good Reads and have to admit that it’s a bit dangerous – so many great book recommendations at every turn!