Because they are not sitting across the table from me every night (and because they left for college before I was done imparting my knowledge), here are the nightly bits of wisdom you received at the dinner table.

Love Dad

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Zen and Toilet Paper

I am trying to get the toilet paper roll thing to work in a public bathroom.   The bottom roll is empty but still there and the top roll is full.  So I pull on the top roll and one frigging square comes off.  Now I have to find the beginning of the roll again, so I and turning the roll by hand.  I get another square.  Frustrated now I am turning the roll hard enough that the grey wall is shaking.  The bathroom (that is full of people) is getting a little quieter the more the grey wall and the tin toilet paper holder shake.

I stop, slightly embarrassed and  pull the roll with gentle steady pressure.  I have unlocked the mystery of the tin toilet paper holder, it is like magic, it rolls and rolls..  Zen and the art of the toilet paper roll.

I hate to admit it but I my default approach to problems is brute force.  I am naturally inclined to power through and gut things out.  Brute force works by the way, but it never works well, is not quick, and leaves a lot of unnecessary trauma in its wake.  Problems get fixed much quicker when you understand when you need to push, pull, and yield.  You often get a better result faster and you do not beat the hell out of yourself.

Be aware enough of your surroundings to be able to hear when you are shaking the grey door.  If you are getting one frigging square every time you attempt to get more, well that is also a big sign that you have to do something different.

Love Dad

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