Theory
Apology is the super glue of life and it can repair just about anything. The serene
joy of life is woven with the fabric of interpersonal relations. There could be times
when we feel the fabric rend asunder. Then mince no time to stitch it with an
apology. I bet you, a million little things and a bundle of happiness can be bought
back with an apology. When something goes wrong in a relationship which we
fondly cherish, do not judge, do not go on a fault finding mission, do not get
angry, do not remain silent and at last, do not quarrel. Repairing relationships
between humans begins with a sorry. When we say sorry to someone, please do
not have a preconceived notion that we are at fault. We say sorry to someone
just because we value our relationships more than our ego. A word of apology can
turn even the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift. Misunderstandings vanish in
thin air with a word called sorry, and relationships get bolstered with better
understanding of similarities and differences. Apology breeds a trait called
humility and makes one really humble.
Let us pull out a sorry from our heart and hand it over to the person who had
been on the wait for us, for we had missed out on the appointment time. A caring
sorry for an irate customer with an assurance to rectify the glitches would be far
more than any balm for his bruised mind. A word of apology for an elderly person,
who had run on us amidst the busy hustling crowd, would be a sacred act of the
day. A coddling sorry to the kids of ours, for we had forgotten to bring them
toothsome toffees. A whole hearted admission of the mistake and a deep rooted
sorry for a misfired strategy of ours in the organisation will make us more lovable
amongst our colleagues.
So, let us fill the hot air of misunderstanding with the chillness of sorry. The word
of apology makes one forget and forgive. Yes, it is a magical word; the utterance
of the same will let the feeling of hatred vanish from the mysterious chambers of
our mind. So, whenever, a feeling of hatred starts gruelling up in our mind, let us
push it out with a sorry for the person. Hatred is a feeling which injures the hater,
more than the hated. Remember, it is the fragrance of forgiveness that a rose
flower sheds upon the heels that crushes it. Let us take the small but great lesson
from this rose flower and offer our fragrance of forgiveness through an apology.
The word SORRY
Stitches rendered associations
Retains Oppos (friends)
Expresses our Respect
Values the greatness of Relationships
Removes hatred and makes us Yippee
Story
I was in the 6th standard when my teacher announced a New Year gift exchange.
The idea was simple — each of us would bring a small gift, wrap it up nicely, and
on New Year’s Day, we would sit in a circle, unwrapping them one by one.
The room was alive with excitement that morning. Shiny packets glistened in our
hands, wrapped in fresh paper, tied with bright ribbons. Each child waited
eagerly, hoping their turn would bring out something grand.
When it was finally my turn, the teacher handed me a package that looked
different. It was wrapped in wrinkled, reused paper, patched together with bits of
tape. The colours had faded, and it looked tired compared to the other gifts. A
hush fell in the room as I began to peel the layers. Inside was not a toy, not
something new, but an old, cheap paperback book. Its pages were torn, its cover
stained, its spine bent with use.
Tucked inside was a small handwritten note with the name of the girl who had
given it to me. The moment I read it aloud, the class erupted in laughter.
This girl was already an outsider. She often slipped into class late, her hair wet
and unkempt. She wore the same old clothes, day after day, and never joined in
the chatter of the “popular” students. She had no friends, only whispers and
ridicule that followed her.
As my classmates laughed, I saw her turn her face away, trying to hide the tears
that betrayed her. Our teacher tried to silence the noise, but it was no use. The
laughter had already cut through her.
And me ? I should have stood up. I should have thanked her. I should have at least
held on to that book as if it mattered. But I didn’t. At eleven years old, my fear of
being judged was stronger than my compassion. I didn’t acknowledge her gift. I
didn’t even look at her. And what I did next was unforgivable — I tossed the book
into the garbage.
That afternoon has lived in me for nearly thirty-five years. I have forgotten
countless faces and moments from childhood, but not hers. Not the sound of the
laughter. Not the sight of her turning away in quiet shame. And not my silence,
which hurt more than the laughter.
For years, I have wished to apologize. I still type her name into search bars,
hoping to find her, to say I am sorry — sorry for my cowardice, sorry for
discarding not just her gift, but her dignity.
Sometimes, the things we regret most are not the mistakes we made against our enemies, but the kindness we failed to show to those who needed it most.
I still carry that lesson: humanity is tested not when we stand with the strong, but
when we choose to stand beside the weak, however it takes strength to utter a
word of apology or sorry.
Activity
1. Go down your memory lane and list out a few people to whom you feel you
should apologize.
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Quote
“In this life, when you deny someone an apology, you will remember it at time
you beg forgiveness”– Toba Beta
Take Away
1. A million little things and a bundle of happiness can be bought back with an
apology.
2. Misunderstandings vanish in thin air with a word called sorry, and
relationships get bolstered with better understanding of similarities and
differences.