Watching the Gauges

I’m not one to worry too much or get scared when things don’t go the way I think they should. That’s true both when dealing with old cars and in my own life.

When I’m headed across the state—or even across the country—in my old C10, I keep a close eye on things. Oil pressure. Water temperature. Amp gauge. Pretty much everything.
Not because I’m scared something is going to happen, but because I like to know what’s going on. It’s just being aware.

I pay attention to how things look, sound, and feel. And if all of that checks out, then I’m good with it. That awareness lets me enjoy the drive instead of stressing through it.

Awareness vs. Worry

Life works the same way.

I usually don’t worry much about where things are headed or how they’re unfolding. But just like watching those gauges, I pay attention to how things feel. I try to stay aware of what’s going on in my life and in my surroundings.

I don’t live in imaginary disasters that haven’t happened—and may never happen. That’s not to say I ignore reality or pretend things can’t go sideways. I just don’t let my mind tear things apart before there’s a reason to.

I’ve Been Here Before

Working on and driving old vehicles has taught me something important: I’ve made it through hard things before.

Worry loses its grip when you’ve already survived worse.

A new noise freaks out a new owner.
An old hand just says, “Yeah, mine’s done that for years.”

Experience changes how you react—not because you’re careless, but because you’ve learned what actually matters.

Don’t Tear It Down Too Soon

I also have to remind myself of this: you can’t fix what isn’t broken.

I don’t tear into an engine because it might need main bearings or rings someday. I wait until it actually needs them. Constant worry is like tearing down a perfectly good engine just because you’re afraid of what could go wrong.

That kind of thinking creates problems that didn’t exist in the first place.

When It’s Time, You Deal With It

You don’t panic every time a car makes a noise.
You listen.
You evaluate.
And when it’s time, you deal with it.

Life isn’t much different.

Worry doesn’t fix things. Awareness does.

From the Shop Stool to the Soul