Are You Sitting In Someone’s Unofficial Spot? Better Watch Out!

I’ve done it. At the ripe old age of 41, I have officially become “that” person, a person I never thought I’d become. Once a wild child who could sow her oats comfortably anywhere, I have now become set in my ways. In my “that’s my spot” ways.

Get our free mobile app

We all grew up with a family member who had a spot in their home or in ours that they claimed as their own and if anyone took up residence in “their” spot, forget about it. I always thought that people who staked claim on a spot were a little bit kooky until the other day when I realized that I have become that person.  I have a spot, it's mine, and if I’m not in my spot, I somehow forget how to function.

For me, my spot is on the right side of my couch. It's where I set up my laptop to work on work when I’m home. I’ve spent hours upon hours in that spot and for whatever reason, my brain works better when I’m there.

The other day, my son plunked down in my spot and I started to ask him to move but caught myself because I realized how utterly ridiculous I was being and so I slid over to the other side, thinking it would be no big deal. I was wrong. For whatever reason, I just wasn’t able to collect my thoughts and get my work done sitting in a spot that wasn’t “mine.”

I shared my ridiculous story with a coworker figuring he’d laugh at me, but he instead told me that he’s got a spot at church that he has to sit in every Sunday and if there’s someone in that spot when he walks through the church doors, he instantly feels out of sorts.

Did you know that nearly two-thirds of Americans say that they have a spot and they’re pretty passionate about their spot? Additionally, more than half of Americans say they feel like I did and that they’re uncomfortable if they have to sit anywhere but in their spot.

Where is your spot? I’m curious if after reading this you discover that you have a spot you didn't really realize that you had and I’d love for you to move to a different seat to see (like an experiment, if you will) what kind of feelings you have when you sit someplace other than "your" spot.