first amendment

I find myself saying 'sorry' quite a bit. this is not a recent thing. but in reflection I seem to apologize for just about everything. and not just me ... don't you hear it day in and day out. sorry. not a statement of regret most times. it's just a common phrase like please and thank you. and it got me to thinking.

I quoted Kelly Rae in my last post regarding her thoughts on gratitude. a few days ago she talked about apologies. not just the mindless 'sorry' you say in passing conversation, but true heartfelt apologies.

she writes that apologies 'made me think about all the opportunities that mistakes give us to really connect with the people in our lives.' I make my share of mistakes, missteps, the occasional mayhem. but I never really thought of taking the error of my ways and turning it into a connecting point. we learn from our mistakes. we all know that lesson pertaining to proactively not repeating the error. but to use the mistake as an opportunity to grow and become a better person. to reach out. embrace. accept. and not defend. that is the lesson.

she continues 'my heart was connecting to hers. I've learned that when I do approach a situation with an apology rather than with a prepared battle, I feel so much cleaner about it. if I just let my heart do the talking and admit I was wrong or unfair, then it gives the other person permission to let their guard down too.'

no doubt I will continue to fall back on the 'sorry'. it slips out easily in conversation. and although speech is free the words used can be either costly or priceless. I don't want to take the word for granted and render it meaningless. commonplace. worthless. this word needs to be spoken softly. absorbed. returned.

'remember, we all stumble, every one of us. that's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.'