The two small words ‘I’m sorry’ can sometimes be extremely difficult to say. Maybe because they are potentially so powerful and sometimes also require one to swallow a massive chunk of pride. Apologising honestly can save relationships, mend friendships, burn out the fire of anger and it also has various health benefits. Those people that find it difficult to apologise have a serious flaw in their characters. The best apology is one in which a person realises their mistake, takes responsibility and feels regret for their actions and subsequently tries to do something to remedy the situation. There are times for apologising and others when actually you shouldn’t. Agree?
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The following message is for The General. Please excuse my rather scruffy and somewhat illegible handwriting; it was written in a bit of a hurry.
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I was recently talking to a friend of mine who told me that I had become distant and it seemed as if we were drifting apart. They weren’t too happy about it and that forced me to take a few minutes out from the daily grind and examine myself and what I have become. I wasn’t too happy about what I discovered.
In the final few paragraphs of ‘The Story’, I made the following promise, which I wish to reiterate, to all my friends:
With so many deaths close to home among family and friends recently, I realised just how much we take for granted; the friendships, the relationships and the other acquaintances. You can never know when such people may leave, go, or die. And when they do, you’re left wondering whether their last thoughts of you were full of happy memories or whether they left with no memories due to lack of contact or neglect on your behalf. Recently, I think I have been guilty of neglecting and that really scares me. I don't want to be remembered as the person that never remembered and so hereby promise to try even harder in that regard. If I ever fall short in that promise, forgive me and feel free to remind me. – From ‘For Your Story’.
I’d be the first to admit that I can be annoying, unpleasant, irritating and may even say some hurtful things unintentionally due to my short-sightedness at times. If I have ever said or done anything to you, that may have caused you distress, hurt; both physical and emotional and or sorrow, then I want to say I am truly sorry. 99.9% of the time, if I ever am guilty of doing such things it is totally unintentional. Intentional or unintentional, that doesn’t take away the hurt a person may have felt and for that reason I ask for your forgiveness. It may be that you cannot forgive me today, nor tomorrow, nor next year but that’s fine. I accept full responsibility for the flaws and dents in my character and I want you to know I really do regret many things.
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