Take the time…. To be on time

Have you ever been late?

Of course, we all have. But have you ever had to wait for someone else because they were running late. I will admit in the past few years, I seem to have developed a slight five-minute delay for most of my arrivals. I try to compensate for this and sometimes end up five-minutes early. Perhaps someday I’ll figure out the delicate balance and arrive on time.

But anyway…

Today, the community college I work at was offering free heart screening (in honor of Heart Health Month. Go Red!). I made my appointment for 9:15 a.m. and actually made it to the appointment five minute early (see above.) As I sat there for another 10 minutes I thought, “Well, anytime now it should be my turn.” Another professor walks right by me patiently waiting outside the door so I got up and followed. The nurses promptly let us know she was running 25 to 35 minutes behind. How, I ask, do you get THAT far behind when the program only started at 9 a.m.? Because of my schedule for the day, I was unable to get the screening and will have to head to my own physician for my health screening.

After today’s incident, it really got me thinking… do people really not care if they are late? If every person was only out for their own time, where would that leave the rest of us? I always say, my husband and his family live on their own “Time”. If they say they will be there at 5 p.m., don’t expect them until at least 6. Be there in 15 quickly turns into 45. And a five-minute stop at the store is never less than one hour. Perhaps what I really need to do is relax? (Yes, I know I know that’s what I’ve been saying for months.) But really time is valuable… why waste other people’s?