Staying on schedule can be a character issue.  This outstanding guest post will help you understand the character consequences of scheduling.  If you have a busy schedule this is a “must read.”

Recently my husband treated me to a weekend free of wife and motherhood duties.  I only had myself to pack before I flew off to another U.S. city for a brief retreat from regular life.  On the morning of my flight, I slept a few extra minutes past the alarm’s first ring.  I leisurely arose and caved in to the urge to check email and Facebook.  I proceeded with my unhurried approach until I stepped out of the shower and saw a clock.  Reality hit as less than 30 minutes remained to finish getting ready.  Immediately, I felt the crunch to complete what now seemed a lengthy list of final chores.  As my anxiety elevated, I began barking instruction to my husband, delegating my outstanding wrap-up.  By the time I bid my husband good bye, he was eager for my exit and resistant to a parting kiss.  Understandably he was frustrated with the stress he was forced to absorb amidst my panicked race to get out the door.

I stayed in this unpleasant mode after I arrived at the airport.  I sprinted to security, where the line was out to the atrium.  I ended up behind a large family traveling together for a destination wedding.   When it was time for my security line to merge with others in queue before approaching the agents, rather than wait my turn, I pretended to be with the wedding party.  Had I identified myself separately, I would have been the first person cut-off and forced to wait for the alternating line.  Assuming I was part of the wedding party and continuing a conversation begun with the family, a TSA screener inquired about how long I’d been married.  I snapped a quick and curt answer, hurriedly trying to move on.  I proceeded to dash to the tram, rattling the nerves of a young mother I gently swiped as I passed.  Once inside the terminal, I looked up to see a famous Atlanta family waiting at a nearby gate.  A tad bit star-struck, I caught myself wanting to observe their interactions but was quickly reminded of an impending plane-door closing.  

Yes, I made my plane.  But, there was so much lost.  As I found my seat on the plane I reflected (and repented) of a morning lost.  This should have been my perfect opportunity to show gratitude toward my husband, patiently wait my turn in the security line, graciously help the mother traveling with two young children, and enjoy the opportunity to people watch amidst a brief brush with fame.  From the minute I realized I was running late until I arrived at my gate I was in survival mode.   Behaviors benefiting anyone else were abandoned in my need for self-preservation.

How often do we turn ourselves or our families into survivors by failing to stay on schedule?  It is easy and tempting to desert our time budget as we get distracted or extend a moment of enjoyment too far.  We dismiss momentary and almost subconscious choices as insignificant.  But are they?  A child, who arrives late (or at the last minute) to school, arrives stressed.  And hurried activities are never quality activities.  We’ve all heard studies showing insufficient sleep yields underperformance in school or on the job.  Staying on schedule keeps us and our families at their best.   Unnecessary stress is avoided.  And honoring the time budget may even afford us the few extra moments to serve others in our midst. – Amy Fenton Lee

Amy Fenton Lee is an Atlanta area wife and mother who struggles like the dickens to stay on schedule.  Her new (school) year’s resolution is to be more disciplined with her time on email and Facebook.

Since this website is dedicated to character, I would be lacking good character if I withheld the full identity of the author of this excellent post.  Amy is my first-born and the mother of my oldest grandson.

When you deliberately move from surviving to serving you are taking a major step down the character path.
Gary Fenton
Characterpath.com