This morning, I arrived late for a meeting, while entering the meeting place, I felt embarrassed. I was the only one who came in late. When I entered the room, I felt like everyone was looking at me not because they meant to judge, but because being late naturally shifts the focus. I felt like I distracted the meeting and it made me reflect deeply on what being late truly means.
Before going to that meeting, I had to prepare my kids first. I needed to make sure they were ready, comfortable, and okay before I could even begin tending to myself. As a parent, that instinct comes naturally where my children comes first. That responsibility was the reason I was late. But as I thought about it more honestly, I asked myself if that reason of mine is really valid. The answer for me was no. Not because my kids aren’t important, but because I know I could have prepared earlier. I could have planned better or maybe there's something missing about my ways of doing things because other parents can make it on time. So, why can't I?
That realization led me to another thought: what does “early” really mean? Sometimes, we think we are preparing early, however, it isn’t early enough. If I try to be early next time and I still end up late, then maybe my definition of “early” needs to change. Maybe it means waking up earlier than usual, starting sooner or anticipating delays before they even happen. Growth often requires us to redefine our habits, not just repeat them with slight adjustments.
What truly stood out to me was the understanding that being late doesn’t only affect me. It affects everyone else involved. For example, when someone arrives late to a meeting, the flow is interrupted. Conversations pause, attention shifts, and momentum is broken. Even if no one says anything, the impact is there. In some cases, being late can unintentionally send the message that you are not fully interested, not committed, or that you don’t value the time and effort others put into organizing the meeting.
I also realized that being late can be misinterpreted. It may appear as lack of respect, even if that was never the intention. People don’t always know our personal reasons. They only see the action, not the struggle behind it. That’s why punctuality, in many ways, is not just about time.it’s about consideration. It’s about acknowledging that other people adjusted their schedules, made preparations, and showed up on time.
Of course, I understand that there are moments when being late cant be avoided. Life happens. Emergencies occur. Responsibilities are there. There are days when no matter how much we prepare, things still don’t go as planned. And in those moments, being late can be understandable. But when it becomes habitual, that’s when it’s worth pausing and reflecting.
On the other hand, there are also pro's when we arrive earlier. We can rest and prepare. We can make our mind at ease. We will not feel embarrassed. We will not feel the rush and stress from thinking that we are chasing the time. We can focus and be more effective.
For me, this experience became a reminder that growth is continuous. We are growing every day, learning every day, and being given chances every day to do better than before. Acknowledging our shortcomings is not a sign of failure, but a sign of self-awareness. I know I still have many things I need to work on within myself, and time management is one of them. This moment of embarrassment was not meaningless. It was a lesson. And I intend to learn from it.
Photos are mine edited in CollageArt
