A Lesson From The Bathroom Wall

I was working on my bathroom walls the other day when I realized that if I had done the right work from the beginning, I wouldn’t be struggling as much now. When my home was being built, the contractors used flat paint in the bathroom, but they should have chosen something with a gloss or shine to withstand the moisture. Instead of addressing the issue properly, I tried to take a shortcut. I covered the walls with peel-and-stick wallpaper, hoping for a quick fix.

At first, it looked great. It gave me the aesthetic I wanted without the hassle of repainting. But when I decided to remove the wallpaper, the situation became much worse. The adhesive damaged the walls, making the problem even harder to fix. What seemed like a simple, temporary solution only masked the real issue, and in the end, I had to put in even more work to repair the damage.

This experience made me think about how we often handle challenges in life. When faced with pain, disappointments, or unresolved emotions, we sometimes try to cover them up rather than address them head-on. We apply emotional “quick fixes” like distractions, avoidance, or surface-level solutions to temporarily mask the hurt. But just like my bathroom walls, ignoring the foundational issue only causes more damage over time.

Avoiding necessary healing doesn’t make the problem disappear—it delays our growth, our purpose, and our ability to move forward. We may feel relief in the short term, but beneath the surface, the problem continues to grow. Eventually, we’re forced to face what we ignore, often at a greater cost.

Time, energy, and even finances can play a big role in why we put off dealing with certain issues. We tell ourselves we don’t have the resources or capacity to tackle them right now. But prioritizing ourselves—our healing, our well-being, our future—is the most important investment we can make. Just like a well-built home needs a solid foundation and proper care, our lives need intentional work and maintenance to thrive.

True healing and progress require effort. It may not always be easy, but addressing things correctly from the start prevents unnecessary struggles later. So today, I encourage you to examine the areas in your life where you might be applying quick fixes instead of lasting solutions. Choose to do the real work. Your future self will thank you for it.

Prioritizing yourself—your healing, growth, and well-being—is essential for long-term success. Sometimes, the best choice isn’t the easiest one but the one that ensures a solid foundation for the future. Whether it’s your home, your heart, or your life’s journey, taking the time to do the work now will save you from greater struggles later.

So, what are you trying to cover up? Maybe it’s time to peel back the layers and start the real work—because you deserve lasting wholeness, not just a quick fix.