Don’t get the preoccupation with Pinterest? Let me explain.

Congrats on finagling an invitation to this Pinterest thing everyone is talking about. But let me guess—you don’t understand the obsession, right? And to some degree I get it because I was once like you.

“So you pin things you like and ….[insert disbelieving look and skepticism they’ve finally taken a plunge off the deep end]?”

Let me break this down: Pinterest is a virtual inspiration board—a place where you cull images of things you love, pictures that inspire you, and information you may want to keep handy.

Remember that folder you crammed torn-out articles into? The one where you kept recipes you’d one day try? The one with the dog-eared pages ripped from Bride’s? The one with the images of the dream house you’d built one day? Pinterest takes all that digital. Consider it an electronic scrapbook filled with pictures you’ve found online or repined from friends’ boards.

But there’s more to it. For most of us, the images we curate on Pinterest have a psychological component to them. Just think about it: All the décor and design exists in a world where good taste is a given, budgets aren’t an issue, and designers are deemed unnecessary. These are places where furniture occupies beautiful, open spaces with nary a Lego, Monopoly board, or Barbie in sight; a place where people clean up after themselves (sigh…). In my Pinterest world, end tables never have water rings and pillows are pristine and devoid of say …a stain that remains from a GoGurt spill that should never have been anywhere near the upholstery, but was. And you thought Fifty Shades of Grey was the only form of mommy porn.

Pinterest is a place where I can luxuriate in the bathtub of my dreams, vacation in exotic, turquoise-watered locales, plan the chicest wedding ever (or vow renewal?), and indulge in any number of fashion or jewelry desires.

Plus there’s the food… In my pretend pinning realm I have plenty of time to indulge in Betty Crocker-like baking and whip up batches of the most scrumptious cookies and cupcakes, or a breathtaking 15-layer ombré rainbow cake—all enjoyed in the tranquility of my spacious white kitchen without any fear of crumbs or calories.

Yes, this is my Pinterest world. But you’re welcome to visit anytime.