“I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date,” lamented the White Rabbit in Disney’s original version of “Alice in Wonderland,” released in 1951. I have not seen any of the newer versions, so I cannot say for sure if the same line or song was repeated in subsequent incarnations of this childhood classic, but the lyrics have stayed with me for, well, forever. This movie was not my favorite of the Disney classics, but this mantra was difficult to forget, and I have carried it with me halfway into my current decade.

I was reminded of these words from the harried White Rabbit as I drove to an 8:45 am Cardio Step class. Recently the class has changed to a later start time, which is great for me. I can sleep in longer or begin chores earlier or complete random errands on my way to the gym. All the above are a recipe for making me late, and they often do just that. Certainly, I can steal away fifteen more minutes of snoozing before getting out of bed, start one more load of laundry before leaving the house, or simply stop to fill up the gas tank on my way to class. Give me an extra fifteen minutes and I can fill that void.

But now, I am in the car and on my way with no more time to spare!

Turns out there is a TON of traffic at 8:40 am. Who knew? And there is nothing I can do. I already left the house late, I can’t maneuver around the traffic that is everywhere in the suburban streets, I can’t will time to stop as I navigate the slow traffic. I must deal with the consequences and arrive late. So embarrassing.

Luckily for me, the women at class are welcoming. Almost thrilled that I have arrived at all. They gladly make room for me. I announce upon my late entrance that “I hate to be that person,” meaning, you arrive early to secure your spot, not arrive late to make everyone else accommodate you. Really embarrassing. But thanks, fellow gym rats, for lending me some space!

The real issue I have with being late, however, is that if you are late for you first appointment of the day, you will be late for every subsequent appointment thereafter in a 24-hour period. You simply cannot make up for lost time. And I was late for my first appointment twice this week! Ugh. Shame on me.

The other issue I have with being late is that it keeps people waiting. On you. As if my time is more important than their time. It is awkward and rude and, frankly, avoidable. Oh, and the closer you live to your destination, inevitably the later you will arrive because for some silly reason you think you have more time to get there. Wrong.

I’ve had weeks, no months, when I pride myself on being the first one to arrive for a class at the gym or a match at the tennis courts only to worry that I have the day or time wrong because no one else is there! Such madness in our psyche that we think this way, but I know I am not alone in my madness. So, I stretch, use the ladies’ room, check my phone, stretch some more, worrying that I have the time frame all wrong because not only am I ON TIME, but I am EARLY. A new concept, for sure.

The moral of this story is, one, people are forgiving and understanding, and two, sometimes life, or we, get in our own way. Give yourself a break, drive safely, and simply arrive, if you can’t arrive on time. There will always be a spot or a chair or a shoulder for you when you get to your destination.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=im+late+im+late+white+rabbit&&view=detail&mid=976C58B6FB8F79B740F0976C58B6FB8F79B740F0&rvsmid=86BCC2626C5D808ADFCA86BCC2626C5D808ADFCA&FORM=VDQVAP