What My Father’s Garage Taught Me About Health

My father was always tinkering on some kind of car while I was growing up. A serial car trader, he was constantly switching out cars, trucks, Jeeps, and even motorcycles. If it had wheels and an engine, chances are it passed through our driveway at some point. None of them were new, and all of them seemed to need attention.

As a result, Dad spent a lot of time under the hood or underneath some vehicle, checking it out or fixing issues. My brothers and I spent a lot of time as his fetch-and-carry crew. We handed him wrenches, held flashlights, pressed brake pedals and such while he diagnosed rattles, leaks, squeaks, and knocks. Looking back, I realize we learned a lot more than simple car maintenance.

One thing we learned is that little problems rarely stay little when they are ignored.

And honestly, the human body works much the same way.

The Squeaky Brake Problem

Imagine you are driving down the road and gently press your brakes as you approach a stop sign. Instead of a quiet stop, you hear a tiny squeal.

That squeal is a little warning that something is not exactly right. You can ignore it, but it could lead to larger issues later on.

The same thing happens in the body every single day. These signals are usually not major issues - a headache, heartburn, bloating, fatigue, brain fog, muscle tension, or even trouble sleeping at night.

These are often the body’s version of squeaky brakes. They are not always emergencies, but they are signals. Little messages that say, “Hey... something here needs attention.”

Symptoms Are Information

Quite simply, discomfort is rarely random. The body is responding to something.

Now, that does not mean every symptom requires panic or a complete life overhaul.

Sometimes the body is simply reacting to temporary circumstances. Just like a brake squeak after driving through rain does not necessarily mean total brake failure.

But if the same signal keeps showing up over and over again, it deserves your attention.

Masking vs. Fixing

There are generally two possible approaches to responding to problems: fix the issue or somehow mask the problem.

For our cars, we could replace the brake pads and worn parts to fix the issue causing the noise… or we could just turn up the radio so we do not hear the squeak.

For our bodies, we could adjust our diet or lifestyle to reduce symptoms… or we could take something that temporarily relieves the discomfort so we can get on with our day.

Oddly enough, many people choose to fix the issue in their cars, but mask the issues in their bodies.

To be clear, there is absolutely a time and place for symptom relief. Sometimes you truly need the pain to stop so you can function. Modern medicine can be life-changing and lifesaving.

But somewhere along the way, many of us stopped getting curious about why the symptom showed up at all.

Instead, we normalize discomfort.

We expect headaches, live with digestive issues, power through exhaustion, or simply get used to feeling overwhelmed.

And then we build daily routines around managing symptoms instead of removing the causes.

You Do Not Have to Become Extreme

This is the point where some people assume holistic health means throwing away everything in your pantry, drinking green juice for every meal, and meditating on a mountain somewhere.

Thankfully, that is usually not necessary.

Most of the time, healing begins with simple tinkering. Little things matter, so paying attention, experimenting a bit, and making small adjustments can really pay off...

Maybe you drink a little more water.

Maybe you sleep an extra hour when you need it.

Maybe you reduce one inflammatory food for a while to see if it helps.

Maybe you take five quiet breaths before meals.

Maybe you finally admit that stress is affecting you and take a yoga class (shameless plug).

The body often responds beautifully to small, consistent changes before major interventions are ever needed.

Be Your Own Mechanic

The truth is, nobody lives in your body except you. That sounds a little silly, but hear me out…

Doctors, yoga teachers, nutritionists, therapists, and wellness practitioners can absolutely help guide the process, but ultimately you are the one driving the vehicle every day.

And your body is constantly communicating with you.

The question is simply whether you are listening when the squeaks begin and whether you are willing to tinker around until you find an answer. Sometimes the answer is straightforward and other times it takes patience and experimentation.

But learning how your body responds to food, stress, movement, rest, relationships, and mindset can be one of the most empowering things you ever do.

You just have to become willing to pay attention.

Because tiny squeaks have a way of becoming major breakdowns when ignored long enough.

And often, the earlier you listen, the easier the fix becomes.

Until next time, my friends -

Sandy