The Waiting Game – or: Unexpected Downtime

Could a delay actually be a gift?

When I moved to Greece in 2019, I carried with me the deeply ingrained “Western” mindset: time is precious, punctuality is respect. Being late was often considered not just careless, but even rude.

How dare I waste someone else’s time by showing up late to a meeting, a dinner, or an appointment?

So arriving in Greece — even after 15 years in Asia, with all its cultural variety — was still a shock. Suddenly, I found myself in a world where punctuality wasn’t taken nearly as seriously. On average, people would show up 15–20 minutes late. Sometimes I waited 45 minutes, even an hour. And it drove me crazy.

What frustrated me even more was the lack of communication. Rarely did anyone call or text ahead. If they did, it was usually right at the time we were supposed to meet — or worse, a few minutes after. I kept asking myself: Why can’t you let me know earlier so I can adjust?

After weeks of irritation, and months of simmering frustration, I began to notice something. Over time, I started to see life through a more Greek lens. If you’ve ever read the Stoics, you’ll recognize the philosophy: being truly present in the moment.

It took me two years to adapt. But eventually, I no longer minded when people were late. In fact, I started arriving late myself.

Because what I realized was this: people weren’t late out of disrespect. They were late because they were fully immersed in what they were doing, or in the conversation they were having. They weren’t rushing to the next thing — they were present. And there’s something undeniably beautiful about that.

Today, in a world where constant motion is the norm and silence is rare, these pauses matter more than ever. They’re a chance to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with ourselves.

So next time you’re waiting — for the subway, an elevator, or a friend — resist the urge to fidget or let impatience take over. Instead, welcome the pause. Let it be a gift. Use it to breathe, to reflect, to ask yourself if you’re living in alignment with your values.

As the former CEO turned author Dov Seidman put it:

“When you press the pause button on a machine, it stops. But when you press the pause button on human beings, they start.”