Everyone has friendships that seem to go downhill, whether it be from distance, business or some sort of argument. Those sorts of situations are probably some of the hardest situations to cope with, especially if that person was very important to you.
Say that you got into a fight with one of your best friends, and they refuse to apologize. Every person I know has gone through something similar to this, and it is an extremely frustrating spot to be in. All you want them to do is say that they are sorry and forgive you for whatever the disagreement was about. Swallowing your own pride and being the one to apologize and forgive them is not usually the most ideal situation. This is a major blow to your own beliefs on the disagreement at hand, not to mention your ego has the potential to deteriorate a bit, but let me tell you this: It is absolutely okay to apologize, forgive and forget.
The situation could go many ways. You could become friends again or just continue coexisting on a less uncomfortable and tense level. Both of those are way more preferred than having pent up anger against the other person. Anger is just stressful and in most cases unnecessary and inconvenient. Life is already stressful enough, and it does not get much easier as you continue to grow up and move out. Discrepancies happen in the work force and in college life more than most people seem to expect. Training yourself to forgive a person and be the one to apologize even when it is not your fault makes for a wonderful student and co-worker. Besides, the person who you are currently disagreeing with could have the same feelings about not wanting to apologize because they swear that it's not their fault. Just be the bigger person and admit fault in the situation. It overall eases the pressure of blame off of the issue and opens up a less hostile atmosphere to be able to discuss the problem.
The less hostile the situation, the easier it is to move past what is happening between you and the other person. Yes, it's hard, but it is just the "adult" thing to do in order to grow and change in the situation.
From a personal level, I admit that this concept is extremely difficult for me, and I often times feel myself despising having to apologize and forgive first, especially if I know that the situation was not wholly my fault. It is very human to want to protect your dignity and keep your chin high and your beliefs solid and unwavering, but sometimes, those walls have to come down in order to soothe it all.
Forgiveness is a very peaceful action, and nearly no harm comes from doing it. All it does is show that you have a balanced and kind character and that you can maturely handle many sorts of temperamental issues. It also makes you a leader and someone who is confided in, so I say forgive. Swallow that pride. Lower that chin. Apologize. Forgive. Move on. Whether you like it or not, time keeps moving. It's up to you to move with it and change with it.
