[speeder]

Most of us who have made a bone-headed boo-boo at some point, (or several), while working on our vehicles. When I look back at most of mine, they were the result of impatience and/or frustration, ie. rushing and not paying attention. Working with one's hands should ideally be like a meditation, blocking-out distractions and staying in the present moment to the extent that you go neither too fast or slow and give total attention to the task at hand. Doing it otherwise can be extremely dangerous whether the situation is power tools or floor jacks.

What does this have to do with the flashlight accident? I've done stuff like that countless times, not really thinking about where I set something down, etc. Good pro mechanics in shops have a whole protocol involving protecting the car from damage while working on it, from fender covers and plastic bags over the seats to carts to set tools on instead of on the vehicle, etc. When you damage your own car it sucks, when you damage someone else's it's a whole 'nother ballgame of suck.

Slow down, get advice if needed, make it an enjoyable experience w/o strict time tables on yourself. You probably do something completely different for a vocation that you are good at so don't be too self-critical about your car-wrenching skills or experience.