Are you an early person or a late person? I am an early person...as a matter of fact I can't STAND being late!!! It literally gives me a panic attack, OK, probably not, but that's what if feels like to me. Honestly, I get panicked, nervous, tense and then just plain ticked off. I think its incredibly insensitive to be late to events. In my mind, if I'm late, it screams that I don't have any respect or regard for the person or organization holding the event.
I'm not even really sure where this OCD about time came from. My parent's were both timely people...the type of people who felt like they were late if they weren't at work a half an hour early every day, literally. They never really made a big deal of it, I don't even ever remember them talking about it, we were just always early or on time for everything we did.....and I like it that way!
I have a dear friend who is perpetually late for everything (and if she's reading my blog she knows who she is and that I love her eternally!) and it stresses me to no end.....that she's late! Now...honestly, why do I care if she's late? Well, a lot of times, she has one of my daughters with her so when she and the girls were 20 min late for the Jr. High Camp weekend and the bus was literally waiting on them to leave....it stressed me to anger. OK....so that was a big deal...making a load of others wait....that's a bit much. It's not usually like that. But...as I write, here I am tonight waiting on my daughter who led me to believe she'd be home by 5ish tonight after a shopping trip with this friend, it's almost 8pm. Mind you, my friend has already called me and apologized (she knows I stress about time!) and I know she never means to be late, and honestly....WE HAVE NOTHING GOING ON.....so why does this stress me out????? I have NO idea! I truly am OCD about this.
Ryan isn't necessarily the timeliest person on earth....again, not someone who intends to be late, just doesn't really stress over getting anywhere. Church mornings used to be a big stresser for me.....they've all figured that out and after lots of rough mornings, its all worked itself out! (we go to a later service!!!) I like being early to ballgames so I get the seat I want....my friends know I'm early so they call me to save them seats! I like being at sales early to get the items I'm seeking and yes, you guessed it, I am definitely a 4am morning after thanksgiving shopper. Mind you...I'm not a morning person, but I will definitely get up to save money. If a gathering, holiday party, etc says 7 to ?, I want to be there at 5 min til 7....that's what I think is polite!
I have no idea why I am so OCD about this. When we are "late" in my eyes....nothing happens, everything ends up fine, and I calm down, but I am so frustrated by the time we do get there that it takes me a while to relax. So whats the solution? I certainly don't see my self relaxing enough to be late to places, nor do I think that is the solution. I would however like to come to the realization that things do happen and it isn't the end of the world to be later than planned. I know my girlfriend never "plans" on being late for anything...nobody does, well....except those who've convinced themselves its fashionable to be late! So why does it stress me out so? It's something I'm working on this year, praying diligently about the solution, knowing that god will provide the answer......lets just hope he's on time with it!!!! haaahaaa
So what is your stresser? Are you OCD about it like I am.....and for no real reason? Give it to god and see what his plan is for the issue.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.
You should start picking Cali up for church. She loves to be early and stresses if she's late. "On time is late" she tells me.
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