I almost quit... and then I didn't.

As I was explaining how it all unfolded he was laughing, he offered perspective and thoughts for the next time, and then he said, “Doesn’t the sense of accomplishment feel good”. *

As I was explaining how a change in perspective confused the tried and true “Righty tight;lefty loosey” rule — he laughed and nodded, and said, “Doesn’t the sense of accomplishment feel good”.

I was explaining that “all ‘n all” I thought it went well except when I wasn’t thinking and spilled oil everywhere; to that he said, “Next time put out a drop cloth, and doesn’t the sense of accomplishment feel good”

It did feel good, and to think, I almost quit. The whole experience was a great reminder —

No matter how well you are prepared, it never really goes according to plan. It’s much harder than the classroom or what’s shown in the video.

It usually takes more effort than you originally thought. Figuratively speaking, be prepared to sweat.

Course correction is part of the process — you will find that sometimes you think you’re doing the right thing, when in fact, you are not.

It may very well get messy and you may want to quit. If you quit though, nothing gets accomplished and nothing of value is learned.

The sense of accomplishment feels good. You also learn important lessons for the next time you want to accomplish something.

So what was the experience I’m referring to?

Well I thought it would be a great idea to change the oil on my motorcycle. I have a Yamaha FZ09 (which I suppose is a extension of my fondness for two wheeled vehicles) and my thinking is there are just some things a person needs to know how to do — change a flat on your bicycle and change the oil on your motorcycle. After talking to some people who know about motorcycles and watching a video or two, it seemed fairly straight forward… run the motorcycle for ten minutes so the oil flows easily; remove the oil drain bolt at the bottom of the motorcycle and drain the oil; remove the oil filter; put the oil drain bolt back; replace the oil filter; replace the oil and tighten the cap; finished.

Having acquired everything I needed and reciting the mantra, “Righty tighty, lefty loosey”, I started the motorcycle.

Motorcycles heat up very quickly, the muffler gets very hot, and it’s hard to get at the oil drain bolt and oil filter without burning yourself.

My wrench can’t get at the oil drain bolt so I have to use a socket — I need metric but I just have imperial sizes. This size will work (sort of).

“Righty tighty, lefty loosey”. Why won’t the oil drain bolt come off? It should come off. I need more leverage. As I went to the other side of the bike to get a different perspective on the situation I realized I was tightening the drain bolt. Wrenching to the left the seal broke and the drain bolt was loose.

As I watched the oil pour into a pan I noticed I was working up a bit of a sweat. With the oil drained, it was time to remove the old oil filter (which is rather close to the hot pipes of the the muffler).

With my new filter removal tool in hand and “Right tighty, lefty loosey” as my guide I positioned myself to remove the filter — this tool doesn’t seem to be working very well. I need more leverage. Since it doesn’t matter what condition the filter is in when it comes off, I used the old screw driver trick and hammered a screwdriver through the filter. I could get a better grip and some extra leverage.

“Righty tighty, lefty loosey” — as I attempted to turn the filter, residual oil leaked down my hand and onto the floor, my grip started to slip, sweat ran down my face, my glasses kept falling off my face, and the metal of the filter just tore. Is it ever on tight. Let me hammer the screw driver in again and repeat. And then let’s try it two more times. I better take a break. (I suppose I could always call someone)

While I try to figure out my filter situation I’ll dispose of the old oil. I was extra cautious holding the pan because my hands were slick with oil, but neglected to consider the oil backing up through the funnel and getting all over the floor…as well as my shoes. (Why am I doing this again?) With oil stains all over the floor, oil soaked paper towel in the garbage can, and my hands slick with oil, I turned to the oil filter one last time. (If I can’t get it off I’m done and will call someone")

It’s still not moving. “Righty tighty, lefty loosey”. (I quit. I will call someone) Wait… why am I turning righty tighty? Let me adjust my new tool a little.

Lefty loosey — it moved; It moved some more. And it’s off.

Righty tighty oil drain bolt; righty tighty new oil filter; fill with 2.7 litres of synthetic oil.

Starts up nicely and no oil is leaking.

My oil change was an accomplishment, and I learned some new lessons, and relearned some others, and it does in fact feel good.

iamgpe

* It was never a question — always a statement.

Moments — "Preparedness in life or the lack there of..."

It’s not that I ever really run out of ideas for blog topics but sometimes what I have in the proverbial “hopper” seem a little stale so every so often I fish for ideas, and the waters are always plentiful.

And on my hook this time… “Preparedness in life or the lack there of…”

Something born out of Covid 19 I suspect, and most likely a reflection of dealing with what we like to affectionately call the new normal, or in other words trying to understand a deadly new virus while dealing with interrupted employment, children at home, operating in isolation, having your support groups operate from a distance, and only just now, not having to worry about a reliable toilet paper supply chain.

These seven words make for a huge topic, and where to start? Are we talking about building good foundations, or managing through crisis, or dealing with change and adaption, or dealing with emotion, or simply all of it? In situations like this, when the topic is huge, I always go to my “sayings” file and see what I’ve squirrelled away for motivation.

And the waters are always plentiful when it comes to pithy sayings.

Like this one for example:

Next time you’re stressed, take a step back, inhale and laugh. Remember who you are and why you are here. You’re never given anything in this would that you can’t handle. Be strong, be flexible. love yourself and love others. Always remember — Just Keep Moving Forward. (Unknown)

And this one

Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think that you have lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time. (Asha Tyson)

I suppose Life is an odyssey we are never totally prepared for and we need to confront situations that come our way with a knowing and a confidence that we can work through whatever is in front of us. Strength, flexibility, determination and kindness are our guides, and we are greater for it.

There you have it.

Pithy quotes are the answer to almost everything.

iamgpe

PS — Someone really did send me this blog suggestion, and I am thankful for it because I really needed some pithy quotes right about now.

Are you wearing your lucky rocket ship underpants?

At the very least I will introduce you to Calvin and Hobbes (or reintroduce you) — created by Bill Watterson, this iconic comic strip follows the exploits of a young boy named Calvin, and his sidekick Hobbes. Offering a view of the world through the lens of a young boy, their adventures are insightful, identifiable, heartfelt and very, very funny. I have at least three compilations on my bookshelf.

I only bring this up because I came across a Calvin and Hobbes strip I had in a file — when I looked at it I was awash with the feeling of being wrapped in a warm blanket… comforting. When I read it, I laughed out loud.

Calvin: You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don’t help.

Hobbes: Well you’ve done all you can do.

What makes this brilliant is how you decide to interpret Hobbes’ response — with empathy or sarcasm? If it’s empathy, the response is funny because rocket ship underpants aren’t really a solution, and if it’s sarcasm, it’s funny because rocket ship underpants aren’t really a solution. What makes this really funny though, in a knowing way, is there are times we’ve all felt we’ve done all we can do and things still aren’t going our way; stating quietly (or loudly) to anyone who will listen, “I’ve done everything I can do.” — and tethered to it, more often than we’d like to admit, the suggestion that “I’ve done everything I can do; it’s not my fault”. At best “lucky rocket ship underpants” is a euphemism for “I’ve tried everything I know, and no matter what I do, I can’t overcome the situation”, and at worst, it’s a euphemism for “I quit”; neither which overcome the situation.

There are situations (or problems) that will be bigger than your skills sets, capabilities and endurance, and create an uncomfortable choice: find a way or put on your lucky rocket ship underpants. Ever the optimist, I will say there is always a way, but it’ll definitely be something new, different, scary, and take you where you’ve never gone before (literally and figuratively). In fact it’s the only way.

And if you find yourself saying there is no way, as comfortable and cool looking as they are, you’re lucky rocket ship underpants will become a constant reminder of what you could’ve done. And none of us wear regret very well.

iamgpe