Dear Penny, I have issues with being on time to things. If people are even 1 minute late I tend to freak out. Please help me? I feel like I am constantly being mean to my friends and I apologize to them, but they say I don’t have anything to apologize for. Should I follow my instincts or listen to my friends?

Sincerely, Anonymous Dasher

Dear Dasher, 

Depending on the circumstances, I don’t think your appreciation for timeliness is inherently mean. In fact, showing up early for important, scheduled events such as interviews, practices, appointments, rehearsals etc, is fundamental because timeliness can reflect a person’s respect for your schedule and value for your time. When it comes to less structured events, such as hanging out with friends, try to relax when it comes to timing because a lot of people believe in arriving at social functions “fashionably late” (as long as late is not completely unreasonable). 

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