In my teenage years, I decided to only say the words “I’m sorry” when I truly meant it, recognizing that I had made a mistake and owning up to the person I offended. I rarely apologize, because I (like most people) am neither quick nor eager to discover and admit that I was wrong. I’m not referring to the sympathetic, “I’m sorry you lost your cat,” use of the words, but a genuine apology for an intentional or unintentional offense.
People who know me well should understand that I don’t say those words lightly. However, I’ve noticed that a lot of people are quick to throw around the words, “I’m sorry,”in an almost backhanded fashion. I truly question a person’s ownership of the offense when it starts with, “I’m sorry, but” and then lists the reasons why the offense wasn’t his fault.
Apologies need to be sweet and simple if the offense is to be forgiven, no excuses or justifications.
People who know me well should understand that I don’t say those words lightly. However, I’ve noticed that a lot of people are quick to throw around the words, “I’m sorry,”in an almost backhanded fashion. I truly question a person’s ownership of the offense when it starts with, “I’m sorry, but” and then lists the reasons why the offense wasn’t his fault.
Apologies need to be sweet and simple if the offense is to be forgiven, no excuses or justifications.