Common Courtesy

I have a thing about timeliness.  Like a big, huge thing.  Like a deal-breaker kind of thing.

If I have an appointment, I am there 20-30 minutes early.  If I am expected at a new location, I map out my route ahead of time to make sure I am there on time.  If you're picking me up, I'm ready and waiting to walk out the door when you arrive.  I consider these actions the basis of common courtesy.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who do not.  And what does that say?  When you show up late, cancel plans, etc.; you are telling the other person that their time is not as valuable as yours.  You are saying that they are less important than you are so it is only appropriate that they wait on you.  Is this a conscious thought or decision?  No...usually not.  I have more faith in humanity than to make the assumption that most people deliberately try to make what they call a friend feel lesser or hurt.  But that is the impression you give and the perception of the person who is left waiting.  And as we all know, perception is your own personal reality.

So take a minute and review how you treat others when it comes to time, both your time and their's.  And make sure you let those you love feel loved by the way you respect their time.

And those are my random thoughts this morning...