If I say I'm going to be somewhere at some specific time, I try my best to do exactly that. It's what I expect from others as well. I hate to wait so please don't be late!
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| Train, Dunmurry station – The 11.27 Bangor – Portadown calling at Dunmurry station. Since the introduction of this new stock there has been a noticeable improvement in punctuality and fewer “we regret to announce” over the long-line public address. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Punctuality
I hate being late. I don't like to wait for other people either, If anything I prefer to be early if I'm going somewhere. My wife seems to have that same inclination so we are usually of a single mindset when we go somewhere. If we're running late then I tend to get nervous and start feeling anxiety. I want to be on time because I don't want anyone waiting on me.
That's the way I've always been. My father too. I guess I got that quality of punctuality instilled within me from my father's influence. Yes, I call punctuality a quality because I consider it to be a courtesy to others and a sign of respect. If I don't like to wait on somebody else that I'd expect that they don't want to be waiting on me. If we're all on time then we're all happy, or at least that's the way I see it.
But there's another thing. Maybe this is my main reason and in a sense it might be somewhat self-serving or even a desire to be the one in control. My father was like this too. What I have found to be the case is that if I am the first one in a place then it's like I've marked that territory as mine. If I'm early then I can scout things out to get a "lay of the land" so to speak, thus giving me a certain advantage in a sense. Being the first one there means I can arrange things to my advantage. I can usually watch as the other person arrives. They are coming to me.
As an example, when I went back to college at age 54, I always tried to be the first one in class. For one thing I'd get my preferred seat in class. But often, and this was probably also due to the fact that I was usually the oldest student, those coming into the class would often assume that I was the professor. Even after they found out that I wasn't, as the class went on I was always seen in a sort of leadership role.
Most of my working life I've usually either been in a management role or looked at as a candidate for management. I tend to prefer a work situation in that way. If I'm confident about a job then I'd prefer to be the person in charge. I'd much rather be the guy giving orders then having to take them from somewhere else. One of reasons that I've been placed in higher positions is the sense of being capable of taking on responsibility. Being punctual is a responsibility. And a quality.
My father would have liked that part of me. Being punctual and responsible. It was an example that he set for me and I kept up with it in my life. It's the way I am and I wouldn't want it any other way.
Are you usually a punctual person? Why do you think that some people are habitually late? Do you see punctuality as a quality in a person?
