When the fuel gauge in my car shows under a quarter of a tank then I get myself to the nearest petrol station and replenish the tank. I don’t like running on empty and I definitely don’t want to run out of petrol and be stranded. My husband however, waits till the needle on the gauge goes into the red and keeps driving past the petrol stations assuring me that there are plenty miles still in the tank. To say this makes me nervy and agitated would be an understatement! Eventually he will pull in and fill up and off he goes again. Invariably, the needle is in the red whenever I use his car. This means I have to first get to a petrol station before I can do anything else. I call this hassle!
It’s the same thing when we travel anywhere by plane. I like to get there in plenty time. I compensate for slow traffic, accidents, long check in lines, longer security lines, getting a Starbucks and going to the loo at least twice. It doesn’t bother me if I am early. I can relax, browse the shops and generally check the boarding status regularly. You will by this time be getting my drift! I err on the cautious side. My husband leans towards the ‘get there by the skin of your teeth’ side! Perspiration, exasperation, imagination, exclamation, (constipation!!) are just some of the symptoms I experience when running on empty or late, and this is not an exaggeration! I will not go into any of my ‘travel’ experiences, as love covers!
The question I put to you is, Is this just me, or is this a woman thing?
Please get back to me on this as I value your input.
In the same way as we run on empty with our cars and our time, so we can also be depleted in ourselves. The consequences however are much more serious. If you run out of petrol you can always get help or call the RAC or AA. If you run out of juice and burn out it’s not so easily fixed. Your body also has a gauge that lets you know when you need to rest and replenish your energy. The problem with most people is they either can’t or won’t read the gauge. They don’t listen to what their body is telling them. They keep pushing themselves and end up tired, weak, listless, anxious, depressed and sick. If this is you, then I urge you to stop right now and take a long look at your schedule. Be honest and acknowledge that you can’t fix and do everything. You have 24 hours in your day you need to make time to rest, replenish, relax and be at peace with yourself and everyone else. Don’t wait till you are sick, but rather make adjustments now. Don’t keep putting off the good things you know will help you live a long, full and peaceful life.
You can’t run on empty and because life is so daily, you need to to daily take care of yourself. What you do today will affect your tomorrow.
Just a thought!
Nan
