I grew up where I saw my Dad seem to know everything. He finished basements, he put in concrete floors,

he even built his own garage doors.

He allowed me to be his “gopher” which meant I ran and got what he needed but I never ran saws, measured boards or did much hammering.

He was a great example of DIY (Do It Yourself) albeit I didn’t learn much more than the lesson that you can do lots and succeed if you are willing to buck up and try. He said he’d never done that stuff before but that didn’t daunt him one whit.

Being my father’s son, I try to be a DIY also because it makes me feel good when I succeed. So I try, and I try. Most minor stuff I do satisfactorily but lots of times my efforts result in multiple, and I do mean multiple trips to the hardware store. I have learned to ask for directions at least there, on the third or fourth trip.

Plumbing stuff drives me nuts. Last year I went back and forth trying to fix a hose, replacing washers, and lots of stuff. Finally I spoke to one guy at the store, and he explained that there are different size fittings for outside  hoses so you have to get that stuff in the seasonal side of the store. I should asked in May instead of waiting until September. (head scratch)

Today I continued my runaround ways to fix a faucet but only three trips to the hardware store, Bless you small town! My front outdoor faucet dripped last year and despite my herculean attempts to prevent the slightest drip, it still did. Finally I learned that there is another washer INSIDE the faucet and so I took it apart.

On my third trip of trying to find the right rubber O washer, I took the piece of the faucet with me into the store and hunted around and kept hunting until I found it, or at least I think I found it. When I turn the water on outside in a week or so I will know, cross your fingers and toes.

Doing the little things that are invisible but help my family makes me feel good so I will remain determined. Being determined accounts for a lot of achievement in life.

I remember resurfacing my daughter’s desk for her bedroom. Learning to cut that counter top and contact glueing it into place and in what I thought was a cool colour also. Doing that for her meant a great deal to me so that 14 hour project for me was a learning experience so what if it should have been 2 hours. I still learned! Determined Dad that’s me.

That’s why Dads have stashes of crazy glue and weird little clamps and stuff!

So in achieving my little handyman victories, I encounter bumps along the way, and sometimes it takes me awhile, and admittedly sometimes I even fail but I am glad I learned at my father’s knee to being open to trying, and being determined, and not giving up. Not having ever done it before is no obstacle, or excuse. Doing something for the first time should be an opportunity to be seized.

Nothing of any real value has shortcuts, or is instant, whether it is home repairs or great relationships. 

* thanks for reading!