Recently I’ve had to have a word with myself because I keep getting so caught up in something that I end up being a little late for appointments. I do mean a “little” late because when I apologise for being late, those I’m seeing are usually surprised I think I’m late. However for someone who likes to be early or in time, my lateness has been causing me concern.

Time with other people is a precious commodity, and how we respond to being with others in our timekeeping can on occasion give away how we really feel. In my perfectionist, sensitive moments I often feel that some can tell you the importance you have to their lives as they easily break long-held commitments, turn up nearly an hour late, or just plain forget.

By not respecting time we’ve promised to spend with other people we make it look as though their lives and commitments are not important. When we let people down we fail to recognise the other obligations that they may have changed or said no to.

Can you tell I’m sitting in a room waiting for my next appointment to turn up, having been let down by the first who thought it was okay to contact me 4 minutes before the appointed time? I’ll be forgiving as I’m sure the unspecified urgent business really is urgent. However I do feel there was little respect for the journey I would make, and the arrangements I could have changed had they called earlier.