Enough with Being Late!

Remind me to tell my daughter...

That she will always, unequivically lose respect for lateness.  There is something very real about the effect of being late that trumps everything: talent, poise, beauty, strength, wisdom, brilliance and more. I have been late, alot.  I know that it has caused me to lose some respect. When I am late, even slightly late, I get judgement placed on my dance card of life that can only be erased after multiple on time dances.  The equation is about 1 late = 5 earlys, because the truth is ontime isn't even good enough.  Early is the only acceptable time.  It hurts when I am late because a few of my confidence pegs are automatically knocked out from under me.  I have been late for my classes (that I teach), my appointments with students, friends, family.  I also know that I hate when others are late for me!  The irony.  So here is what's going to happen.  I have practiced this most recently and it absolutely works.

  1. If you are in the space where a meeting will happen within 30-40 minutes, DO NOT LEAVE THAT SPACE! If you go anywhere, you will be late. EXCEPTION: You can go to a near by bathroom.

  2. If you give somebody a time that you will be there and you haven't left 20-30 minutes before that time, call them and reset the time for 30 minutes later!  Then you are still on your way, but won't be late.

  3. If you have to be in a place at an absolute time, have a conversation with your brain and body.  Tell them (brain and body) that they will be there 15 minutes before that time which probably means you leave 30 minutes before that time and get there early! Adjust minutes into hours as is necessary to accomodate for distance.

  4. When making an appointment with anyone, make sure you have their phone number or email address to alert them of the need to adjust the time.

Make no mistake about it, I know, when you are late regularly or even more than once, you will feel the funky looks and the snickers and the silent judgement that you cannot erase. You are too talented, too gorgeous, too important to be viewed as less valuable because of your inability to manage your time.