Lately, I’ve switched up my morning routine. After giving up on traditional news channels—because let’s face it, who has the bandwidth for the endless cycle of doom and gloom—I’ve found myself tuning into Bloomberg News. And here’s the thing: they keep talking about whether something is “sticky.”

“Is it sticky?” they ask. “Will that be sticky?” It’s as if the entire global economy has suddenly morphed into one big jar of caramel.

Now, every time I hear them say “sticky,” my mind immediately wanders to food. Specifically, sticky toffee pudding. Maybe it’s because I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth (and who doesn’t love toffee?), but the constant talk of “stickiness” has my stomach growling for that rich, caramelized goodness. Forget inflation, interest rates, and supply chains—I’m out here craving desserts.

But here’s the kicker: once you start hearing the word “sticky” in one context, it follows you everywhere. Suddenly, everyone’s talking about stickiness. The weather is sticky. The markets are sticky. Relationships are sticky. Heck, I even heard someone say a project was sticky! Seriously? Are we all just living in some giant vat of maple syrup?

The problem is, nothing quite lives up to the real stickiness of, say, toffee. It’s as if all these other “sticky” things are trying to ride on the coattails of the original, delicious meaning. They’re wannabe sticky situations, and it’s just not the same. Sticky toffee pudding? That’s a solid 10/10 sticky. Inflation? Sure, it lingers, but does it taste like caramel? No.

It’s like we’re in a sticky renaissance, where everything wants to be sticky just because it sounds cool or edgy. But let’s be honest—if it doesn’t have the sugary allure of toffee, it’s just… meh. This trend of throwing “sticky” at everything is, ironically, starting to lose its grip. If I can’t eat it, does it really matter?

So, next time Bloomberg asks, “Is it sticky?” I’m just going to answer, “Not unless it comes with a side of whipped cream.” Because some things in life are worth sticking around for—like a great dessert. Everything else? Well, it’s just trying too hard.