2019 is now the third year I’ve focused on the goal of banishing lateness from my life. Sadly, it is taking longer than I thought it would to overcome a lifelong habit of being late! I LOVE how you phrased this bad habit and the benefits of overcoming it: “You will not scramble through life on a string of apologies, and all your relationships will improve.” Last year a kind and helpful person shared with me these words of wisdom, “When you’re early, you’re on-time. When you’re on-time, you’re late. When you’re late, you’re fired.” I’ve shared this with my young adult children—who live with me, and due to disabilities, do not drive. You’re right about it being a cultivated family trait—in my family’s case...a cultivated goal. I’ve also come to realize there are significant—and tangible—health benefits (mental and physical) in eliminating the anxiety, guilt, shame, disappointment...of always being late. You outline the wonderful spiritual and temporal benefits to be had by always arriving early. Thank you, I SO appreciate your article and insight!
Been there, suffered thatJanuary 3, 2019
I love this! My adult sons have taught me how to show up to things 10 minutes early.
We had some friends who notoriously always showed up late--sometimes as much as an hour or two, when we were heading out to an all-day activity. I perceived it as selfishness, as lack of respect for our family and our attempts to do good things with them. It became too much, too aggravating, and we stopped being friends with them because we felt so used. I'm still not sure why they were always so late, but sadly it drove us apart.
Comments | Return to Story
K. Chin - Modesto, CAJanuary 4, 2019
2019 is now the third year I’ve focused on the goal of banishing lateness from my life. Sadly, it is taking longer than I thought it would to overcome a lifelong habit of being late! I LOVE how you phrased this bad habit and the benefits of overcoming it: “You will not scramble through life on a string of apologies, and all your relationships will improve.” Last year a kind and helpful person shared with me these words of wisdom, “When you’re early, you’re on-time. When you’re on-time, you’re late. When you’re late, you’re fired.” I’ve shared this with my young adult children—who live with me, and due to disabilities, do not drive. You’re right about it being a cultivated family trait—in my family’s case...a cultivated goal. I’ve also come to realize there are significant—and tangible—health benefits (mental and physical) in eliminating the anxiety, guilt, shame, disappointment...of always being late. You outline the wonderful spiritual and temporal benefits to be had by always arriving early. Thank you, I SO appreciate your article and insight!
Been there, suffered thatJanuary 3, 2019
I love this! My adult sons have taught me how to show up to things 10 minutes early. We had some friends who notoriously always showed up late--sometimes as much as an hour or two, when we were heading out to an all-day activity. I perceived it as selfishness, as lack of respect for our family and our attempts to do good things with them. It became too much, too aggravating, and we stopped being friends with them because we felt so used. I'm still not sure why they were always so late, but sadly it drove us apart.
ADD A COMMENT