The white glue that holds up a painting in my office has dripped down the wall – about 11 inches.  How long ago did that happen?  I have no idea, but I first noticed it several months ago.  I hated the look, especially since my walls are mauve.  It looked horrible.

But, I became inured to seeing it.  When the ugliness seeped into my consciousness, I winced and looked away – forgotten.

Yesterday, I had a brain storm.  I found the old paint and using a Q-tip, I touched it up.  That simple.  Six or eight months of having to not see, and a few seconds so I could see again.

How many things in your life do you “not see” because it’s too complicated to fix, or you’re not motivated, or it would make you feel something you don’t want to feel?  This might be about a relationship that's causing you distress, a boss (or friend) who treats you badly, piles of clutter (although, some people are comfortable with clutter), shabby underwear.  You get the idea.

I’m embarrassed now when I think about what my clients must have been thinking when they saw it.  I certainly hope I wsn’t encouraging them “not to see.”  One of the principles I stand by as a therapist is that no matter how bad or hard something is to see, it’s only by facing it that we can fix it.

Referring to the old saying, this shoemaker is now fixing her own shoes.