Don’t know if you‘re familiar with that expression or not? But it comes from my younger days when used to describe extremely awkward situations. Situations that ‘stick’ with us like flypaper on our fingers!

They come in our lives! Without warning many times & not of our own doing either. They are those times when we want to rush home; crawl in bed - pull the covers over our head & pretend it didn’t happen.

How do we deal with those exceedingly & often highly ‘sensitive’ situations when simple confrontation may not be the best solution? If I had a definitive answer, I probably wouldn’t be writing about them here on the day before Valentine’s Day.

“Sticky Wickets” require considerable processing in order to handle them with delicacy & diplomacy! They are not those times when we “rush to judgment” and then run headlong to save the day. We must step back, take a deep breath & long hard look before seeking to remedy.

This past week, I had at least one ‘sticky wicket‘. That’s 1 too many! I tend to emotionally run for cover & mentally “bang my head” against something hard & momentarily whisper the words. . . .“oh, what’s the use!”

Believe it or not. . that helps! It’s an honest expression of my sense of frustration & total “not-knowing” what to do or how to handle the “wicket“. To do otherwise makes a bad situation - dire!

I find that as the emotional ‘infant’ reaction subsides & my mental acuidity returns. . . I can think clearly as to the best way to resolve the situation. AND, it helps to ‘bounce’ the ‘wicket’ off others! Others I trust, who are not immediately involved - thus can see solutions I would miss.

When you have those life moments - and trust me, we all have them; may I recommend the following:

a) Let the accompanying emotions of such life episodes roll over you. Denying them will simply drive them underground where 'festering' takes place & they hide only to return another day,
b) Express your frustration, anger - whatever is the accompanying emotion - to at least one other. If there's no "other" to whom you can do so - then speak it out loud to yourself. Tell "self" how you feel & don't hold back.
c) Once you're calmer, get away! Yes, take off for a quiet place where you can think clearly about the best way to handle the 'wicket'. For me, that is usually to take a drive - by myself - in the country in order to mentally process.
d) Once you have a 'plan'. . . take it to that trusted person to process together. Work out the 'kinks' so to speak, and finally. . .
e)  Put your "wicket" plan into action.

One last piece of advice I’ve found helpful - especially when the “wicket” is particularly “sticky“. Don’t go it alone! Take someone with you. A someone who is well-respected by both parties. Let that person be the “sounding board” who can listen objectively & help avoid any “she said - she said“.

Well, that’s it for a Friday the 13th! Now if I can just remember my own advice; put it into action; and resolve my “sticky wickets“. . .it will be a great weekend!

May yours be filled with more than enough LUV from those whose love means the most,

Linda, a fellow journeyer

P.S. BTW - when beginning a “sticky wicket” conversation. . . quiet, gentle, but firm “candor” is always the rule of the game!