Date: April 27, 2025

Author: Alex J. Barnes

I’ve always had this habit of writing things out whenever I feel uncomfortable. It’s kind of my way of dealing with things, processing them. There’s this quote I’ve always heard: “When in doubt, throw it out.” And I guess, in a way, I’ve been doing that—throwing out my excuses for my bad habits. But one in particular is a habit I never really realized was causing me problems until recently.

I’ve always had trouble with punctuality. I’m that person who’s always running late, and I never really understood how much it bothered people until it started affecting my relationships and opportunities. I mean, it sounds like such a simple thing—just being on time—but it’s a habit I’ve struggled to break. And honestly, the consequences of it hit me harder than I expected. People started looking at me differently. I became that person who could never be relied upon.

I didn’t get it at first, but then something happened. I was late for something important—an event that really mattered to me—and the fallout wasn’t easy. It was a wake-up call, and not a comfortable one at all. But I guess that’s how life works, right? Sometimes it throws these uncomfortable lessons our way, not to punish us, but to make us realize where we need to change.

I didn’t lose everything, but I learned something valuable. I might not have gotten away unscathed, but I’ve come out of it with a lesson that will stick with me. It’s not the kind of thing I wanted to learn the hard way, but now that I’ve learned it, I’m determined to do better.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the “Just Do It” slogan from Nike. I’ve never really paid much attention to it before, but now it feels like the perfect motto for me. No more excuses. I’m going to do the work. I’m going to show up on time, be more reliable, and actually follow through on the things that matter.

So here I am, a little bit wiser, ready to be a better version of myself. Life might have given me this lesson in a tough way, but I’m taking it as a stepping stone toward something better.