I had a recent email exchange with a new yoga student who complained that she arrived for a 12pm class and the doors were locked. I asked what time she got to the studio. “Around 12:10” she wrote, without a hint of irony or remorse.
I explained that we don’t allow latecomers and once class starts, the door and elevator to the studio are locked. It’s protocol that honors the yoga series and the students.
She wrote back that if she couldn’t be late for classes, then the studio would not suit her needs; needs which obviously include not following rules or showing common decency to other people.
I’m realizing that these “needs” have proliferated within the audacious social realm of one particular generation. Y.
Let’s be clear: This won’t be a popular post for those of you who are responsible, accountable and more to the point, familiar with the ever-more-elusive concept of punctuality.
So, if your immediate reaction is to become defensive, ask yourself “Y”? Is it because there’s some truth to my rant, or are you offended due of the incredible inhumanity and generation discrimination I display in even suggesting the following, which is this:
Generation Y needs to take a mandatory course (government-funded, naturally) on how to be on time, because it’s my argument that a large percentage of this generation actually doesn’t know the basic definition of the word “punctual.”
Humor my sarcasm (perhaps inherent in my generation?) and allow me to post the definition of the word from our Oxford friend:
Punctual: Happening or doing something at the agreed or proper time.
Let’s put aside that the Oxford dictionary actually rewards those who honor the word as being “happening” and look at the two words that jump out here: “agreed” and “proper.”
When the “proper” time for a yoga class is 12pm, that’s when it starts. It’s an “agreement” made between those who actually arrive on time and the establishment offering the class at said time. The arrangement, when executed properly in the above manner, gives birth to and ultimately breeds another fine word: respect.
The first part of the course on time should spend at least 3 hours explaining this vague and confusing concept to Generation Y participants—the course will actually only be two hours and a bit because no one will be there for the first hour, but it’s a start.
Then, another ugly word is going to have to be included in the curriculum: entitlement.
It should be clearly pointed out that being late not only shows disrespect for the poor soul(s) doing their best to tolerate your chronic lateness, but it also adds salt to the tardy-wound when you feel entitled to your lateness. When you insist on owning it with the suspiciously motivated pride of a snake-oil salesman, it turns you into an even bigger jerk than you already are.
Hey, we’re ALL late at times, but when you’re late more often than not and your arrival is not accompanied by a sincere, heartfelt apology and a worthy explanation as to why you’re late, you just upped the asshole-ante.
And if you’re “always late” and use that self-serving, non-contributing phrase as some sort of fucked-up rationale to free yourself of accountability and crucify common sense, another requirement will be to explain why you feel you’re more important than the people who were waiting for your ass.
I know. I sound angry and in need of yoga, but hey, it’s fun to get this stuff off one’s chest, and while it’s a generalization of sorts that may cause moans from Gen Y, there is most certainly data out there that can back all this up. There has to be. It’s just too prevalent and obvious to be made up. I’d look for it now, but I promised to meet a friend for lunch, and seeing as they fall under the classification of being another human being, I thought I’d be, y’know…
ON. TIME.
This Huffington Post article (http://ow.ly/G4bzG) does its best to create some scientific backing and offers Lucy (a Generation Y-gal) three important tips at the end of the piece: 1) Stay wildly ambitious 2) Stop thinking that you’re special 3) Ignore everyone else.
I’d like to add #4: Be. On. Time.
Paul McQuillan (author of #1 Bestseller, I Hate Yoga, Morgan James Publishing NYC, 2015)
ihateyogabook 