Sticky Spots

There is this sticky spot on my kitchen floor that is just growing and growing. I don’t know how it is that sticky attracts more sticky. What I really don’t understand is how I can be so thoroughly annoyed by it, yet not get up the gumption to clean the darned thing. The kitchen looks good (aside from this sticky spot). I’m in a good rhythm with the dishes, I’m getting the sink and stove top polished and pretty at least once a day. … but then I stand by the trash can and look at that sticky spot on the floor and just hope that maybe it will go away… all by itself.

Sometimes life feels full of sticky spots. Things you just want to avoid for no good reason. Things you hope will just right themselves.

My friend was talking the other day about dragging her feet finding new doctors when she moved. I know. I’ve been there. Maybe it’s a move, or a change in insurance policies (or hell, to GET an insurance policy) and you’re thinking that tooth that keeps bugging you… it’ll just wait another month, which turns into two, then three, then pretty soon you find yourself in a strange dentist’s office on a weekend because he was the only one who answered the phone and you no longer had a choice about the matter…

Sticky spots.

So I find myself coaching my friend – just do it, get it over with, jump, eeny-meeny-minie-mo, whatever! And then I have to stop and remind myself that my own advice might be worth taking. It’s easy to tell someone else to get over their sticky spots… it’s much harder to admit you are avoiding your own.

Usually the biggest sticky spots, for me at least, are not nearly so serious. That piece of tin that was falling off the carport? One screw fixed it. That hole in hubby's good shirt? Five minutes with a needle and thread. That stack of crap on my desk? Perhaps an hour of attention in an afternoon.

And it sure feels good when you just get it over with.


I’m a list maker and it’s not unusual for me to make a list of my sticky spots. Sometimes I’ll label it, “THINGS I MUST DO THIS WEEK!” or occasionally something more colorful like “GET OFF YOUR @$$ and DO IT!” When I put my mind to it, apply myself, I usually end up a bit embarrassed… sticky spots are rarely as hard to deal with as I make them up in my mind to be.

Excuse me for a minute….






See! A paper towel and a spray bottle. That darned spot is gone. How easy was that?

Sticky spots.

Now I’ve got a few more to take care of. I’m still not enthusiastic, I suppose, but I’m armed and capable. Watch out list… here I come!