I’m a tour guide. On a recent trip, one woman who was travelling alone was consistently oversleeping. Before every trip, I remind everyone of departure times, give printed schedules, and share my number in case someone is running late. Day one she was 10 minutes late; I let it slide but told the group: no more than 15 minutes late and call me if it happens. Trip went by okay otherwise. The next day this same tourist was late again, by TWENTY FIVE minutes. I called her twice to no answer and we were just about to leave without her when she came out running and got on the bus. I reminded everyone AGAIN that I will not be waiting anymore for late tourists, and waking up on time is their responsibility. When we came back, she asked me if I could “make sure to wake her up on time”. I reminded her that I’m not responsible for waking people up. She kept saying, “No, no, just knock on my door if I’m not out by 8:15,” and I kept repeating “I really can’t do that for everyone, please set an alarm.” Well, on the third day she…

…was late again. But this time, it wasn’t just a minor inconvenience. She missed breakfast, and the whole group was waiting for her at the bus. As the minutes ticked away, I felt the tension rising among the other tourists. A few of them were frowning, others glancing at their watches impatiently. The group was excited about the day ahead, and it was clear they didn’t want to wait any longer.

At 8:30, I made the decision. I couldn’t keep enabling this behavior. I told the group, “We have to leave now. I’ll try to reach her once more, but we can’t afford to waste any more time. Let’s go.” I led the group to the bus and watched as they all climbed aboard, their faces a mixture of annoyance and understanding. I didn’t blame them.

I tried calling again, but still no answer.

Then, out of nowhere, she appeared.

I saw her walking towards the bus, hurriedly pulling her suitcase behind her. She looked flustered, hair disheveled, and there was a guilty expression on her face. The other passengers were already seated, and she hesitated for a second before boarding.

“Sorry,” she said, clearly out of breath. “I just… I overslept again. Can we… can we talk for a second?”

I looked at her, but the last thing I wanted was another conversation about her constant lateness. Still, she had become a regular in the group by then, and I couldn’t just ignore her completely.

I took a deep breath and said, “What’s going on? I’ve been reminding you every day to set your alarm. We can’t keep going like this.”

She sighed, visibly frustrated with herself. “I know, I know. But I just can’t seem to wake up on time. My body is always so tired, and the time zone difference is killing me. I’ll make sure to wake up early tomorrow. Just… just give me one more chance.”

I was skeptical. I’d heard this all before. But something in her voice made me feel a little bad for her. It wasn’t like she was being malicious or lazy—she was just genuinely struggling with something that wasn’t easy for her.

“I’ll let you off the hook today,” I said, “but you have to promise you’ll set an alarm tonight, and we leave on time tomorrow. No more excuses.”

She nodded eagerly, and for the first time since I’d met her, I saw a glimmer of sincerity in her eyes. She wasn’t just apologizing for the sake of it. There was something real there.

The next morning, I woke up with a nagging feeling. Something wasn’t right, though I couldn’t put my finger on it. I went through my morning routine, preparing everything for the day ahead, but as I made my way to the bus, I found myself checking the time more than usual.

8:10. 8:15. I glanced at my phone—still no sign of her.

8:20.

I couldn’t help it. I called her number again. No answer.

It was like deja vu. The same panic, the same sinking feeling. The group was already boarding, some of them casting me concerned glances, others staring impatiently at the door.

I was getting frustrated. This was the third day in a row. This wasn’t just bad luck anymore. This was a pattern.

I debated whether I should leave her behind this time, but then I realized I had no choice. I had to be consistent.

I called her again. No answer.

Just as I was about to make the call to leave, I saw her again, running down the street toward us. She looked almost frantic, and there was an odd urgency in her steps.

She reached the bus, out of breath, and immediately started apologizing.

“I’m sorry. I really tried to wake up. I set my alarm, but I… I must have accidentally turned it off in my sleep.” She sounded so genuinely sorry, but I could feel my patience wearing thin.

“We’ve been through this already,” I said, my tone firmer than before. “I’ve told you time and time again that I can’t keep waiting for you. The group is depending on me to keep things running smoothly. You’re not the only one on this trip.”

She nodded sheepishly. “I understand. I’ll make sure it won’t happen again.”

But I was done with giving second chances.

I told the group we were leaving, and we started our journey to the next destination. The entire ride was quieter than usual, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had failed in some way. I wasn’t just angry—I was disappointed. I had tried to help her, but no matter what I did, she wasn’t listening.

Later that day, we arrived at our next stop. The group dispersed for some free time, and I saw the same woman sitting alone by a café. I couldn’t resist. I walked over to her, sitting down across from her, and we talked.

“I’ve been thinking,” I started, “about what’s been going on. I understand that you’re struggling with jet lag and the time zone change, but you’ve got to realize that we all have our own challenges. Everyone here is on a tight schedule, and you’ve got to take responsibility for your part in it.”

She looked down, and I could see the guilt in her eyes. “I know. I feel terrible about it. But there’s something I haven’t told you. I’m… I’m going through a lot. I’ve been feeling exhausted not just because of the time zone change, but because my life is a mess right now. My partner and I broke up recently, and I just haven’t been able to get my life together. I feel like I’m always running behind.”

I wasn’t expecting that. Suddenly, everything made sense. The lateness, the lack of focus—it wasn’t about the trip. It was about something much bigger.

“I’m sorry for not telling you earlier,” she continued. “I’ve been embarrassed. I thought I could just power through it, but it’s been harder than I thought. I didn’t want to seem like a burden.”

I softened. I didn’t know what to say. I had been so caught up in the logistics of the trip, trying to be the responsible guide, that I hadn’t seen the bigger picture. She wasn’t just another tourist who couldn’t wake up on time. She was a person who was struggling, and I had been too focused on my schedule to see it.

“I get it,” I said, my voice gentler now. “But you need to give yourself more grace. You can’t keep running on empty and expect to keep up with everything. You’re doing the best you can, and that’s enough. But it’s time to take some responsibility for your own well-being.”

We talked for a little while longer, and when the conversation ended, she thanked me, looking genuinely relieved. I wasn’t sure if she had truly heard me, but something in her seemed lighter than when we’d first started talking.

From that moment on, she showed up on time for the rest of the trip. She made an effort to set her alarms, and though it wasn’t perfect, she managed to be more punctual. We even shared a laugh one morning when she admitted she had set her alarm for 6:00 AM to make sure she’d be ready by 8:00.

That moment stuck with me long after the trip ended. I realized that we all have moments where we fall short, where things don’t go according to plan. But what matters most is how we handle those moments and the support we give ourselves—and others—when they happen.

The lesson I learned? Sometimes, it’s not about sticking rigidly to rules or schedules. It’s about showing compassion and understanding that we’re all going through something. And sometimes, just knowing that someone sees your struggle can make all the difference.

So, next time you find yourself frustrated with someone who keeps falling short, remember to pause and think: maybe there’s more to the story. Maybe they’re just trying to keep it together, the best way they know how. Give them the space to figure it out, and in the end, you might just find that your patience is the key to helping them turn things around.

Thanks for reading. If you found this story meaningful, please share it with others. You never know who might need a reminder that it’s okay to ask for help.