It's the little things

Published January 31, 2013

Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

            Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.

            I will admit to you all that I have issues with dark places and creepy things. Consequently, the basement here at the Sentinel office is totally off-limits to me. Just standing at the top of the steps and looking down is more than I can take.

I have ventured to the two floors above us, but nearly hyperventilated in doing so.

And for the four-plus years I have worked here, I have even been somewhat creeped out using the bathroom because it is necessary to step inside, in the dark, to find the light switch.

I blame all this inner wus on my older brother, Keith, who used to pride himself in scaring the pants off of me, the only girl in the family. My mom tells me the story (I have blocked from my memory!) of the time when my brother climbed the tree next to our house, entered through an upstairs bedroom window, then snuck down the steps. I was practicing the piano, which set next to the stairway door, when the door opened slowly and a waving hand appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared, and then the door closed softly.

White as a sheet and barely able to speak, I went to find my mom and squeaked that someone was at the stairway door. She said she was sure it was Keith. I said it couldn’t be; I knew he was outside.

Just to prove how brave (and smart) she was, she went to the stairway door and opened it, revealing that the source of my fear was, indeed, my brother, Keith.

Fast forward many years later, now at the Sentinel office…

I had never told anyone here about my anxiety issues with the bathroom. They all give me such a hard time about the basement and upper floors, I just haven’t wanted to bring more fodder to the repartee.

But this week, I got brave and solved my problem with a simple nightlight, in spite of wondering what kind of banter I may have to endure.

Surprisingly, the little nightlight has been welcomed! My female coworkers are enjoying the nightlight for the soothing ambiance that now exists in the toity! How about that? I’ve solved my anxiety issues and provided ambiance, to boot!

Sometimes, it really is the little things that make a difference!