CHAPTER 26

When an Apology Is in Order

Saying “I’m Sorry”

It’s unrealistic to think that we can go through life without ever having to apologize for either an omission or commission of some sort. From the time that we first learned to say “I’m sorry, Mommy. I won’t ever do that again,” we find ourselves in situations where we have to do damage control. We forgot a lunch appointment. We forgot a birthday or anniversary. We embarrassed a friend by telling others something best left unsaid. We snapped at a coworker because we were under stress. We neglected to tell the boss that the meeting had been cancelled. And these are just the small things for which we might have to apologize.

Most of us find making an apology an unpleasant task at best. First ...

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