I am Sorry

M. S. Rao

To express regret or apology is a hard task for many of us to do. To say ‘I am sorry’ might give us a feeling of:

Ceding power/territory

Losing a Tug of War

Conceding defeat

Begging forgiveness

Bartering self-status/dignity

Forsaking self-esteem

Incurring insult/injury

Facing humiliation

It is true that it’s a hard fact, It’s harder when we pretty well know that we are more wrong than others. To resist saying ‘I am sorry’, in such occasions, is more:

Blurring / Erring vision

Spreading around toxic ill-will

Broken relations

Raising enemy corps, unknowingly

Conscience-conflicts / Psycho-knocks

Nagging pain and bother

Losing sleep

Racing pulse and blood pressure

Supposing we are right and others are utterly wrong, don’t we feel bad that at least an apology is not forthcoming?

So saying ‘I am sorry’ is not bad at all when it matters, saying ‘I am sorry’, when it is due results in:

A balm to festering bitterness

Cessation of civic hostilities

Turning adversaries into allies

Winning without bloodshed (social and personal costs)

Reinforcing civil control and parliamentary systems

Building bridges and networking consciences

Enhancing self profile and image

Increasing self-confidence

Expressing an apology or regret is one of the most powerful invitations for community sense and social living. Saying ‘I am sorry’ is a purifying ritual, like confession at church/temple, saying ‘I am sorry’ is a pair of extended hands reaching out for doubling mutual esteem, understanding and all round peace.

(The article is a retelling of the concept based an earlier article found in web-reading. Any distortion is mine.)

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