Out of Gas

Sheer panic has set in as I’m looking at my dashboard and see the yellow light blinking Low Fuel. I’m really, really past low so I check my phone for the nearest gas station — 11.5 miles! I’m pulling my boat so I’m burning a lot of fuel per mile. My heart is racing as I know I’m on the brink of being out of gas.

Honestly, I’m dreading being on the side of the road, leaving my truck and boat, and walking in this 100-degree heat to get gas. Surely, I can make it seven miles, maybe even nine. I can feel the fear and panic rising as I countdown each mile to safety.

What is causing me to have so much fear? Where are my thoughts? Heck, I’m most worried about CeCe finding out I ran out of gas. The sheer embarrassment that I will have to endure, I have always warned her to fill up regularly. (CeCe might have previously gotten distracted and experienced this scenario once or twice before.) I am dreading facing her more than being stranded! Two more miles, surely I can make this. The yellow light seems to be going faster and faster: LOW FUEL, LOW FUEL, LOW FUEL….

One. More. Mile. I’m going to miss out on a lot of pain if I can just coast in. I can even feel the truck starting to run a little unsteady as I pull in next to the pump. Oh my, am I lucky. #YSL 

How often do we face unpleasant situations because of poor planning or distractions? More importantly, how often do we let embarrassment keep us from doing the right thing? Ignoring our weaknesses and not owning our mistakes makes us worse leaders, not better. “Do as I say,” doesn’t work. We must lead with transparency (and a full tank of gas).