Although it’s never a standard to live by, it’s reasonable to expect that from time to time ‘stuff’ will happen that affects our important relationships.
We say the wrong thing, or we do something that hurts the people we love. In some cases, it is reasonable to expect that what we have said or done is unforgivable, in which case we might need to accept the consequences.
Sometimes this can mean the end of our relationship. For others, a new kind of relationship or a moment of forgiveness. In any event, saying you are sorry is always a good idea. By apologising we give both parties the chance to recover.
We let the affected person know we understand what we did was wrong, and that we take responsibility for the way it affected them. This opens up the opportunity for forgiveness, which is the epitome of justice.
Even if they can’t forgive us, they are more likely to recover from what has happened (and this might make us feel better, too). And even if they are not able to accept our apology, we can be humbled by the experience of accepting our mistakes.
