Don’t force it

One of the most memorable childhood lessons from my dad was, “Don’t force it!”

He was a great self-taught handyman and mechanic. We had a succession of old VWs that required constant fixing. Sometimes, he’d ask for my “help.” I would join in and learn a little bit about what it meant to fix something.

I was not always the best at choosing the correct bolt to fit the need. Sometimes I’d choose one that was close, but not exact. I’d screw it forcefully and nothing would happen. If I were...