One of my great pet peeves is being late. Of course it happens but I make a great effort to avoid it at all costs. I also have this same expectation for others and I believe it to be a good example to set. Yet, there are exceptions to the rule and I was reminded of this recently when an appointment arrived 20 minutes late. My initial assumption was that this person was lackadaisical and irresponsible, and more interested in her phone than taking the reason for the meeting seriously. Here’s what I found out. She had to take two buses to get to our appointment, one of which ran late. She was relying on someone to pick up her child while she was away so was concerned and keeping an eye on her phone. Finally, and, equally important, it was all a very new experience for her to be at our appointment in the first place and her fear and insecurity manifested in aloofness and silence. She expected to be turned away and treated poorly so entered our facility with a tougher attitude. The lesson for me, she made a great effort to be there given her life circumstances and I was about to dismiss her instead of demonstrate caring, understanding and opportunity. I wasn't giving her the benefit of the doubt.
See Life Should #19