Fuel Low, Panic High

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I recently ran out of gas.  I was driving in the west end of Toronto, preparing to go on the highway no less, when I saw that the fuel gauge needle was dipping dangerously low. 

But I thought, "I'll be ok. I'll make it home."

I passed not one but TWO gas stations on my way to the highway, but it was cold and I didn't want to get out of the car. 

Once again, I thought, "It'll be ok." 

I got on the Gardiner Expressway, and decided to exit onto Lakeshore Blvd--a slower but less populated roadway. As I exited the expressway, the noticed the red light alarm for LOW FUEL came on.   This meant I only had 1.5 litres of gas left in my tank.  Now began my slow and steadily mounting panic!  I started berating myself for not getting gas when I could and tried to remember where the next gas station was (about 7 km away). Realizing that I wasn't going to make it, I started looking for a place to pull off the roadway.  Surprisingly, there were not that many places that I could do this safely.  My panic was much more intense by this point.  I finally spotted a parking lot where I could stop my poor little car. Forty five, very chilly, very thirsty minutes later, a CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) driver named Tony came to my rescue and I was, once again, on my way.

This was a situation that could have been easily prevented with just a little foresight and energy.

A lot of spinal health problems can be prevented with some energy and planning too.  We figuratively run out of fuel regularly and think "I'll be ok", but if you wait until your 'red light alarm' goes off, usually in the form of pain, it can take more time, money and hassle to remedy it. In many cases, doing something about it at the start of the problem, or even BEFORE there is a problem, would result in less time off work, less panic and a healthier back and spine.

Getting adjusted by a chiropractor on a regular basis is an easy, lower cost way to make your body stronger and less vulnerable to injury and sickness.  Don't wait until your fuel gauge is on empty to do something about your back health.