When Being Late is right on time

A few days ago, I had a doctor's appointment. Although I was a bit early, the check-in process took a while due to the requisite paperwork and insurance updates. While I was musing about trying to arrive earlier next time, an older woman I'll call Jane, came in obviously flustered. Before Jane checked in, she immediately asked the receptionist if their phone system was down.

Jane said she'd been trying to call the office for hour and kept getting an error message. Turns out it was an old number for the former office and the current number was working fine.Jane explained that she'd been calling because she was lost. She'd driven around, unable to reach the office by car or phone, and ended up going all the way back home to start her journey fresh.

Thus she was really late and very upset about it. Clearly embarassed, Jane lamented that the office was "out of cards" when she was there last, another reason why she didn't have the right number and got lost.

As I listened to her fret about missing her appointment and blaming her husband for not driving her there, I shared one of my positive thought cards. I really wanted to help shift her energy. Jane was appreciative but obviously still wound up. I wished her a beautiful day as I finished my paperwork and went to the adjacent waiting area.

Meanwhile, the receptionist went to check if the doctor could still see Jane. Moments later, a loud crash came from the receptionist desk.

I heard a few gasps and, "Oh my gosh. Are you OK?"

While the receptionist was up trying to get the appointment sorted out for Jane, a panel in the glass light fixture above her desk split in half and fell onto her computer area. Had she been sitting there, the sharp glass would have likely injured her.

"Thank goodness you came in exactly when you did." I heard the receptionist say. " If I hadn't been checking with the doctor about fitting you in, I would have been sitting where that fell."

A few moments later, Jane came and sat beside me in the waiting room. Her demeanor and mood had changed drastically. As we chatted, she was smiling and happy, suddenly grateful for getting lost and being late.

We don't always know the impact or benefits that come from us getting off course or running behind like Jane did in that moment. But perhaps the story will help someone else trust that even when they feel lost, everything is happening exactly as it should.

How can you apply this story to your life or business? Perhaps by trusting that the client is running late or the project that has gotten stalled will "arrive" at exactly the right time for the best outcome. It might also be having patience with yourself when you worry you've started too late or fallen behind - and trusting that everything is happening on schedule.