A Show of False Concern, or Why You Shouldn't Wait for Latecomers (4 photos)

Everyone knows people who are constantly late. They try their best not to be late, employ various trendy time management techniques, and practice self-discipline, but the same thing happens again and again. Each time, latecomers justify their behavior with some kind of good intentions and claim they didn't mean to inconvenience anyone. This problem is aggravated by the fact that someone almost always has to wait for them.





It's long been observed that latecomers almost always arrive on time where a precise schedule is in effect. They are extremely rarely late for planes, trains, or TV shows, because they know full well that good intentions won't work and no one will wait for them.



Why do we tolerate others' tardiness time and time again? It turns out that in every interaction, we want to establish a close connection, show respect for the other person's ideas, and even contribute to their cause. That's why we don't mind spending five minutes of our time to wait for someone who's running late.

But we do this by wasting our time, an important and irreplaceable resource. You give someone 5-10 minutes of your time, thus expressing your concern, but they're unlikely to appreciate it and will do the same to you again. Is there an alternative? Of course! You can always say calmly and kindly, "Sorry, our time is up."





It's clear to everyone that an overloaded truck isn't the best way to transport gravel. Overloading your day with caring for others who don't deserve it and don't appreciate it makes you ineffective.

There are some things in this world we can't change, like gravity and time. They are what they are, and we need to adapt to them. To avoid being late, you only need to do one thing: leave on time, and you should remember that. By waiting for someone who's late, you're disrespecting the person you're supposed to meet later, and you're also stressing yourself out.



Therefore, if someone doesn't show up for a meeting on time, just get up and leave. You'll be respected for your integrity, and they're unlikely to blame you for anything. It's nothing personal; you simply value your time, respect others, and demand that they respect you. You're like a bus that leaves on time, without waiting for those who linger.

There's one caveat here: if it's a personal matter and you really like someone, then wait as long as necessary. In this case, showing gentleness and generosity towards the latecomer is entirely appropriate.