Hi there. I'm the one you're talking about. I'm always late. You're right. It's a character flaw. But I swear to you, it's the toughest character flaw I've ever

Hi there. I'm the one you're talking about. I'm always late. You're right. It's a character flaw. But I swear to you, it's the toughest character flaw I've ever dealt with. For some reason, when I'm deeply immersed doing something, I'm incapable of wrapping up whatever it is that I'm tied up doing and fucking leave. It's stronger than willpower. It truly bewilders me. I feel that dealing with my lateness is 100 times worse than dealing with that other time management disorder, procrastination. At least with procrastination I can realize what's going on and help myself out of it. But let me assure you: I don't mean to be rude, and I'm not at all selfish as I consider myself pretty empathetic with your frustration. And I'm not only late for appointments: I delay eating my meals, falling asleep, going to the bathroom... I guess it's some sort of time-autism: if I'm supposed to be somewhere at 8, only when the clock is about to turn 8 an alarm triggers a switch in my brain (all other alarms are useless) and I get going, with zero chance of making it on time. Like you said, 8 and 8ish become the same on a daily basis. At 8, when I snap out of it I'm really angry at myself for losing track of time. How did it happen, I ask myself one time after another. It's sickening how often it happens. It feels like waking up in pajamas in a bus stop and realize you just sleptwalk your way there. Consider it some sort of Tourette's. It's not pleasant to be around me, but I just can't help it, I swear. From what I've been able to observe so far, procrastination precedes my lateness, in a way that one becomes a symptom for the other. Ie. It's morning and I have to do some really important task at work ASAP. Later, at 8pm, I have to meet you for dinner downtown. But I don't start getting work done until way after lunch, having procrastinated all morning surfing HN. So, around 3pm, when my mind finally comes to terms with responsibility, an overwhelming sense of duty takes over me, striking upon the task at hand with great vengeance and furious anger. Concentration is tops and speed is maximum. Code is thorough. Design is sharp. Text is brilliant. Suddenly it's 8 o'clock and, yup, I'm late. Time is not standing still anymore. I feel awful. My theory is that the strength I have to build up on a daily basis so that I can overcome procrastination, sleepiness, attention deficit and mild depression is also responsible for my recurring tardiness. To be able to reach such concentration nirvana, my mind has to shut down everything else on the planet earth. On the other hand, whenever I wake up focused and in a good mood, chances are I'm going to be the one ordering that bottle of Pinot.