Karen Nicole Costa

Time. It’s limited. It’s valuable. Our employers put a dollar value on it. And yet most people waste it. Admittedly, I’m a type A personality. Everything has to be perfect. I’s dotted, t’s crossed and if I am ever late to something, you can assume it’s because I’m dead. If I’m late and still breathing and with pulse, I’m aware of my lateness and go out of my way to 1-let my party know that I’m late (apologetically) and 2-what my ETA is. This way, in case they, too are running late, they don’t have to rush. Or, if they are on time, they can find ways to amuse themselves or slow down their pace.

Everyone in my life is late. My friends, my boyfriend, my coworkers, everyone. And it drives me certifiably insane. Like, put me in a white coat, pad the room, take away the sharp objects.

When you are late, you are telling me that your time is more valuable than mine; that the seconds between the very moment that I’m here on earth, breathing and when my heart stops beating is somehow less important than those same moments for you.

And for this, you are an asshole.

I mean, I’m sure you’re a nice enough person. Chances are, you’re not reading this from jail or while kicking a kitten, but as a whole, you’re kind of rude.

I was trying to explain why lateness is rude to someone-we were supposed to have a phone date at x o’clock and they were late. Over 90 minutes late, at which point I went to sleep. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, so first I worried. Maybe they’re dead in a ditch or they’ve been kidnapped by aliens or eaten by a bear. But then, when my phone woke me up and I learned that they were not dead, I got angry.

My time had been disrespected. Therefore, I had been disrespected. And respect is a non-negotiable for me. So I let them know I was annoyed. Okay, I was downright crazy lady mad.

I tried, unpoetically, to explain why it’s rude. But then I thought that maybe practical examples would work best. So I asked them “If you were on a first date and your date was 90 minutes late, would you ever go out with them again?” I’ve asked several people the question and the answer is always “no.”

So the next time you’re late, regardless of whether you’re on a fist or fiftieth date, meeting your mother or an investor, have enough respect for everyone and be on time.

The Type A personalities will thank you.