My Dad and his Tools

My dad loved his tools.

Chances are when he would go to Aldi to do a food shop, he would come back with a new saw, drill, or a tool of some sort was very high.

He always said he would love to build a workshop out the back where he could go and things could be made and fixed. 

Sadly, it was a goal, a dream that he never followed, and it remained a dream.

And by the time he passed away, our box room could have been mistaken for a builder supplier stockroom with all the tools unopened in their boxes, which I sold or gave away to friends who would appreciate them.

Throughout his working life, he was a mechanic, repair, and maintenance man.

He loved to fix things, tried his hand at many things, and just as well because I liked to break things.

I was naturally heavy-handed; it's a gift, clumsy but also quite unfortunate; things seem to decide to break just as I was the last person to use them.

Now he would try and show me, as he was fixing things, but my ignorance of it all refused to pay attention.

Maybe it was out of fear of making a mistake and would receive a backlash from him, so I just let him do his thing, and I continued to break things. 

Fast Forward a few more years, and here I am helping a mate in construction, using drills, screw guns, chop saws, grinders, building fences, cutting bricks, and making cement mixes.

He is probably looking down on me, thinking, w.t.f who is this man?

Now I still break things and fall over. 

Earning the nickname of Munson (if anyone has seen Kingpin) or the irony of twinkle toes as I stand or slip-on things that were to be avoided.

But I'm really enjoying this learning.

I am getting out of my comfort zone and trying something new.

I've even attempted rehanging all the picture frames in the house now that I can see how lob-sided they are after I initially put them up.

Now let's switch it up; let's talk about life.

You see, not all tools need to be plugged in or belong in a shed or workshop.

And we all can have them, use them, and learn to implement them to help fix or mend our feelings or at certain times in our lives.

These are the tools of life.

Again ignorance, fear, and panic will determine if and when we learn about these tools.

When things around us keep "breaking," something's become unstable, and areas seem loose and need some tightening.

Like cement on a building site, we all need glue to make things stick together.

Screws to hold things in place.

These "life tools" are used daily to help us also keep things in place.

Learning about these tools and how to use them doesn't come easy. 

When life throws situations at us, our reactions to them won't change till our awareness does, to the knowledge of what tool to use in each moment.

Just like a hammer is not used to cut things or a saw used to secure items, the tools we learn about, try them out, and see what works.

Awareness is the most powerful of words and tools we have once we have that self-awareness of what works for us and what doesn't.

Awareness of our reactions to things that happen and how we are as people, but that awareness to not allow us to react in ways that do not serve us in the best way. 

Yoga, hiking, journaling, sea dips, running, meditation, sports, gym, podcasts, beach walks, and even breathing is some tools that can be used in everyday life.

And just as my response to my dad was if anything breaks, I would call someone, a professional who knew what they were doing, which is similar to speaking to a therapist; these professionals can help bring out that awareness.

Reading personal development books, understanding what works for us as individuals.

Unlike the electrician or tiler that comes to your home, you wouldn't ask them to show you how to do that rewiring or grouting; a therapist or a book helps bring more knowledge to ourselves and our behaviors without judgment.

A choice is also a tool we all possess, probably the most important one, but when we learn about tools, learn about our behaviors, past mistakes, and reactions is a choice nobody can make but ourselves.

The ignorance I had when my dad tried to show me how to fix a leak in a pipe, the ignorance to try and learn something new, the fear that I had that I would fail, I chose not to know, decided not to try.

But I guess it was not the right time. I was not ready.

So be gentle with yourself and those around you; the time will be right sooner or later, and once it starts, you won't want to stop learning.

Don't worry. I'm still a clutz, make mistakes and break things, and can't promise I'll ever stop (in life and physically) but I've got the tools to attempt to fix them myself, and if I don’t I can always go the middle aisle in Aldi and see what’s there.

Thanks for reading

Marcus.