Your friend promised to arrive by 3:00. It is now 3:17. You are bored. Or anxious. Or annoyed. Which are all simply states within your mind, and will no doubt change as soon as your friend arrives, telling the story of the world outside your head.
How do you respond when someone is late?
I wait about 15-20 min. Try to contact by phone or text to see if they are OK. If OK but running late, I meditate or find something to read or people watch.
I’m also an avid people watcher; I like to make up stories about those I watch.
I wait almost patiently, since I am usually late myself. Therefore. if I am late, I am relieved that I “beat”. Of course, if it lengthens to more than 20/30 minutes, I, if I have a phone and number with me, call to see if it’s a forgotten date or if something has happened. I know that it is said that a person is rude by being late, but since I am a very frequent culprit, I never lay blame on another. I’ve hinted that I want ALWAYS LATE on my tombstone (get it?: I’m 89) .