Time is a very important value in our society. We time tests, athletic events, speeches, food prep, and everything in between. It's important to be in the right time frame. That's why it bothers people when others are late. As a person who is always late to everything, I'm sorry. But I do think that there are some advantages of to having a friend who is constantly late.
For starters, we make you look good. You're five minutes late? Don't feel that bad, I'll probably be 15 minutes late. The saying, “If you're on time, you're late,” suddenly loses all relevance. You can be on time and be fine because I'll be arriving behind you. By me being late, you have just a little bit more flexibility in what time you have to be someplace. Several times, I've had friends text me that they were going to be late to something we were going to and my response is almost always, “I'll be right behind you.”
Secondly, the late friend helps you to learn to work with different types of people. You'll quickly learn the art of patiently (or not so patiently) waiting. In the not so distant future, you may end up working for someone who is always late. Not only do you know how to handle the situation, but you can fondly look back on all the times you had to wait for your late friend. You also learn that it's completely socially acceptable to tell someone to arrive 15 or more minutes earlier than everyone else is coming. We have a standing rule in my friend group that if we're meeting somewhere at say 8:30, then I'm told to get there at 8:15. Normally we all get there at the same time.
Lastly, I like to think that having a late friend teaches you to better appreciate time. I'm usually late because I'm distracted by something or someone else. My thought process usually revolves around, “I have 30 minutes before I have to be here. I can spend 15 of those minutes hanging out with my friends down the hall and the other 15 to get ready.” Realistically, it probably takes me 30 minutes to get ready, but I'd rather be rushed to get ready and be able to spend some time with my friends.
There are many frustrating things included in having a friend that is always late. But hopefully this article has helped to shed some light on the good aspects of having a late friend. My friends very endearingly (or maybe begrudgingly…?) accept and tolerate my lateness as a part of who I am. And they make me work harder to try to be on time (usually unsuccessfully).
