Over the past two weeks, I’ve had to sincerely apologize to three different people:
Two colleagues, after fouling something up
A friend for whom I made a faulty assumption
A client to whom I worried I might have been too direct
In each case, I wrote or offered a thoughtful apology, acknowledging my mistake, absent any excuses, and happily, each was graciously accepted.
Here’s the beautiful thing about apologizing:
So many petulant, chest-thumping buffoons have come to see apologizing as a sign of weakness that, when you apologize, it’s even more appreciated by the person you apologize to.
As apologies become less frequent in this world, those of us not so stupid or fragile as to see the value in owning our mistakes, acknowledging them, and asking for forgiveness are even more appreciated.
As cowardice, fear, and incivility increase and more and more people demonstrate an overwhelming lack of self-confidence and self-worth, those who do not suffer from these maladies will appear like rays of sunshine in an otherwise gray world of stupidity.
It’s unfortunate, of course, and bizarre that these small-minded, insecure people and their childish beliefs have taken hold in certain segments of the population, but as long as this stupidity persists, you might as well take advantage of it by remaining a decent, thoughtful, and resolute person with the fortitude and mettle required to apologize when necessary.
It honestly makes me a little happy to make a mistake.
Yes, I’ve blundered in some unfortunate way, but I’ve also opened the door to expressing heartfelt regret for that blunder.
A chance to distinguish myself as a person of integrity and decency.
An opportunity to do something righteoud that is sadly becoming less common in today’s world.
So embrace your errors. Revel in your mistakes. Welcome your buffoonery.
You get to apologize.
Lucky you.
