Don't let the guage get under 1/4 full in your relationship tanks.

My wife of 33 years has been telling me for years not to let the gas tank get below 1/4 of a tank.  When it approaches that mark she goes and gets the tank filled up. We have had an ongoing conservation for the entire length of our marriage about this concept.

She want to be prepared for the unexpected and has enough gas to get where she needs to go. I think I will always be able to find gas even when the yellow  fuel light is blinking.  I have run out of gas at least five times over the past 30 years, my wife has never run out. 

Too often, we view our relationships like a tank of gas,  we run them so low on fuel that when we run out of gas in our relationships we are surprised.  It seems we have a lot of realtionships that have yellow flashing lights, and we are not sure where to find the fuel to power that relationship back to a full tank.

Relationships are like gas tanks.  Taking the lead from my wife, we should never let our relationship "tanks" get below a 1/4 of a tank.  The first step in this approach (men) is to understand how to read the guages. Many of use think the tank is full in our relationships and they are running on fumes. Most of the time this happens because we have been too busy to put in any fuel. Fuel can be many things: time, a hug, a gentle word, a non combative discussion, all add fuel to the relationship tank.

We all are moving so fast today, we do not see those we love needing replenishment of any kind. So the tank gets lower and lower and one day there is simply no more fuel to keep the relationship going.  Then we are forced to make mad dash and try to find fuel and get it back in the relationship tank so we can continue down the road of life.

We have all been there at one time or another trying to recharge a relationship.  Imagine if we maintained a self awareness never to let the relationship tank get below 1/4 of a tank.  Its those relationships that last because they never have to stop, they continue with momentum down the road of life.  It takes a lot longer to get down the road of life pushing a car because its out of gas versus driving with a gas power vehicle.

So today, take a moment to determine how much fuel is in the tank of that person you have a relationship with.  If it needs refueling take it immediately to be refueled.  Because if you depend on the flashing yellow light you may be disappointed , it is only an estimate of how much fuel is left. Don't take the chance with any relationship that you can make it another few miles without fuel, or you may be left alone on the side of the road without anyone with you.

I call it the 1/4 of a tank rule, its a good one for cars and relationships.  Spend today filling up the cars and the reationships in your life to a full tank and never let them go below 1/4 full.  While this is the most important with personal relationships, it also applies to business relationships. Imagine pushing big flat square rocks up the hill of life with a team who is running on relationship fumes because you as the leader were too busy to replenish the tank.