From the Soapbox: Better Late Than Never?

As you can tell from yesterday's post, I am not a fan of people who are late. And the more I think about it, the more I want to fully explain myself.

Do you need one of these?

I hate being late. That expression 'Better Late Than Never' is not something I believe in. I would rather not show up at all than be late. For example, if I know that I am going to be more than thirty minutes late to something, like church, I would rather just not go at all. I know that I am not perfect, I have been late for things but let me explain what I believe being late is.

There is a difference between being late and being fashionably late. Fashionably late is when you show up about five minutes late to give the impression that you are a busy and held up with other business. I extend fashionably late to being 20 minutes at the most. Normally I like to be on time and most of the times I am early but sometimes I can be late at the most of 20 minutes. But I don't do it to look busy, sometimes it's good not to be the first person to show.

I understand that life is busy and well, crap happens! There are times when things get away from us and we have to be late. You know, when the car breaks down, when your kid poops his pants up his back, your work schedule changed, your kid needs a nap. You get the picture. That I can understand to why you were late.

Little Miss Late is just another name for Little Miss Inconsiderate

But if you are late because you have crammed to much to do or if you are just plain lazy to be there on time, then that is a problem. And you have a bigger problem if you are chronically late. I can handle it when you are late like this every once in awhile but when it is for every gathering or meeting, than you have a major problem. It is awfully inconsiderate and disrespectful to just show up late (remember, past 20 minutes) and think that everything is fine. Like I said yesterday, your time is as valuable as mine is. Being late like this for most of the time is a sign of selfishness.

What's funny is those that have this chronic lateness problem are usually the same that think they don't have a problem and they don't think that being late is a serious issue. Let me tell you, it is a problem. You are not just affecting yourself but you are affecting everyone around you.