The value of a good apology

Someone shared this article on Facebook about a teacher who learned how to teach her students to apologize in a meaningful way. I thought it was excellent.

A Better Way to Say Sorry

It reminds me of a time when I got into an argument with my best friend, Scott. I’m guessing we were in 5th or 6th grade at the time. The details of the argument I can’t recall, but I had stormed out of his house, forgetting it was cold outside and that my coat was inside. My pride wouldn’t allow me to go back so I walked home in a huff. As I walked I kept turning the argument over in my mind. How was I going to get my coat back? What if he wouldn’t let me have it? Would there be a fight? So many questions and so much anxiety tore at my mind.

As I walked into my front door the phone was ringing. I picked it up and the most unexpected thing happened. I heard him say, “This is Scott. I’m sorry. You left your coat here. Do you want me to bring it to you?” All of my bad feelings evaporated in an instant. Those simple words, and his willingness  to say them, were all it took for us to be friends again. I had been too insecure to consider the possibility of an apology, so I’m thankful he knew what to do.

Sometimes we want to be friends again, but don’t know how. The lesson I learned is, there is nothing wrong with being the first to say, “I’m sorry”, and the sooner you do it, the sooner you can drop that burden of bad feelings.

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