Are you here yet?

What does a clean bedroom, Aretha Franklin and the larger slice of the pie have in common?

This article extrapolates what it means ‘to be or not to be’ punctual by dissecting what you’re really saying about yourself and what you think of others when it comes to punctuality.

Organisation
Being punctual shows that you are organised and that you can manage your time effectively (but not necessarily efficiently). The curious thing is that often we choose not to be organised, because we care less. We display organisation when we show up on time to a job interview, shift or a date. If you can do it to those instances you can apply it to any situation. If you can’t organise how to manage your time, one of the few things where you won’t face a living resistance (people), then what will you be more capable of organising?

Respect
Aretha sung it best ‘R.E.S.P.E.C.T, find out what it means to me’. Aretha and I use the term in different ways, but we both understand its premise — respect is how you treat others. Most people don’t realise it but by failing to be punctual you are saying you respect that person less, even if you don’t intend that to be the case. 
 
Selfishness
This is my favourite one because it’s the most damming and when people are told they’re selfish they get offended. Pure and simple, selfishness is ‘lacking consideration for other people, concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit or pleasure’. If you make someone wait for you because you think your time is more important than others, then you are selfish. Because at it’s core making someone wait for you is wasting their time and I haven’t met one person that enjoys that happening.

Some things to keep in mind

• People (including me) sometimes do run late. When occasionally running late communicate that you are. Don’t just say “I’ll be there in five” when you just hopped out of the shower and you’re a good twenty away.
• If you find yourself being more than occasionally late your punctuality is a systemic problem and you should think of the reasons why — start with the three points above.
• There are situations where punctuality is not as important, such as when the first band starts at seven but the main band isn't on until ten.
• Carefully pick and choose when its acceptable to be late but always remember that being punctual is a trait that everyone looks fondly upon.

This article comes off the back of living in Colombia where the words ‘ahora’ and ‘ahorita’ translate in English to now, but actually mean ‘in an hour’ and ‘in 10 or so minutes’. The only word in spanish that signifies ‘now’ (in the English understanding of the word) is ‘ya’ which technically means ‘already’.