PatPatPat

If we were to look at a spectrum of conditions that my clients are afflicted with, we’d have the Ishers on one side and a new group I call the PatPatPatters on the other. If you recall from the previous blog, Ishers are a group paralyzed by too many options and an inability to make a decision or get started with a home improvement project. PatPatPaters, on the other hand, are quick to pull the design trigger and slow to accept the consequences. Their woe comes in the form of constant remorse and worry over having made the right decision.

Patpatpat n. inability to feel comfortable with a design decision to save one’s life, often resulting in constant opinion-seeking from friends, family and neighbors. intj. A comment on one’s inability to be convinced of a decision’s effectiveness.
related forms: v. patpatpatter, patpatpatting adj. patpatpatty, patpatpattier, patpatpattiest

I’ll pop on my therapist hat and give a quick explanation of PPP theory. The core of patpatpattiness seems to be a willingness to change, but a reluctance to fully accept it. Sound familiar? It’s the opposite of ish theory! Recognizing PPP is easy if you ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you feel that you are never satisfied with any of the home improvement projects you’ve completed?
• Has your project been in the final phase for more than 6 months?
• Do friends and family run screaming from you at home after you corner them for opinions on the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” of your project?

Patpatpatting is worse in some ways than ishing: it comes at the end of a project when it’s difficult to undo the already done. At the very least, it’s a more costly condition than ishing because of the potential redo costs after installation. Interestingly, the cure for PPP is the same as for ishing: limit your choices, always trust your gut, and when in doubt, hire a professional. It’s relatively easy to overcome if you just believe in your ability to, as one client states, “pick stuff real good”.

In this time of political saturation, I’m reminded of a famous quote that Ronald Regan used often: “Trust, but verify”. Of course, the former President’s usage carried far more heft; we’re dealing with drywall and lighting, not nuclear ballistics. The same principle applies, though: before you make a decision, use the tips above to make sure it’s the right one. Otherwise, you’ll spend all your time in your new space fretting instead of happy.