Once again I feel happy. My suddenly awful late afternoon turned from angry frustration to a nice opportunity practice my old tricks and learn something new. I have a comedy of errors, my own bad judgement, and a broken crapper to thank for this.

Just before I was ready to go for a roller ski after work today, I found my universal toilet flapper had broken. I thought I could simply replace this $7 part and get on with my day. This looked like a simple win.

So I dashed to Ace Hardware, got a generic new flapper, got close to getting it one. Then, in a blink of the eye and maybe too much force, I snapped the part of the toilet called the flush valve.

This part is important. You can’t flush your toilet without it, and it allows the water a path to flow from the toilet tank to the toilet bowl.

Well, after some cussing and kvetching, I gave myself a few moments to think. I told myself that things do break. I also allowed myself the grace to accept the truth that I’m allowed to give myself a break when they do fall apart.

I also know from so many life experiences that a problem is always an opportunity to learn what you didn’t know.

In this case I also recognized my anger on a hot day was tied breaking up my beloved and shackling routine. I know this well.

For me the solution is to do what works. When I hit peak frustration, which I hit fast, I turned to best solutions. For me that is: taking a walk, cursing out loud a number of times, eating a good meal, listening to classical music, and then rationally determining a solution.

After my meal I spent some time having fun learning about a device I use countless times a day, the beloved flush valve. In short, I have now learned that flush valves in toilets frequently break. They should be replaced about very six years, and mine was due for failure.

Looking at my broken valve I can see it was ripe for falling apart. This was decrepit for sure. The problem was actually not my failed repair. It was something meant to happen.

As for the solution, I have several options. I may try to fix it myself, wait for my landlord (and get a lecture), or hire a plumber. These are called choices. I get to pick. I also am pretty happy I learned from cool YouTube videos how to replace a flush valve. It’s not a simple job, but it is a doable thing.