Everyone's been there before; you said something without thinking and then you hurt someone's feelings, you did something stupid and offended someone, or maybe you made a joke in really bad taste. It has happened to the best of us; no one is perfect and it's bound to happen every now and then. Whether you did it intentionally or not, when you hurt someone, there is one very vital thing you should do: Apologize.

Unfortunately, too many people don't understand this rather simple concept.

For reasons unknown to me, it severely wounds some people's pride to even utter the words, "I'm sorry." Maybe they see it as a sign of weakness? Or they see it as 'people pleasing'? Whatever the case may be, I think many of us can agree that the inability to say sorry is a sign of immaturity, arrogance, and a great lack of integrity. It's a toxic habit that gets worse and worse the longer you have it and is ultimately the final nail in the coffin for many relationships and friendships.

Just as most of us have been the ones to put our foot in our mouths, we've also been the ones on the receiving end of it. Just think back on that time that your family member, girlfriend or boyfriend, or best friend said something-perhaps without even realizing it- that really cut you to the bone, that made your heart drop to your stomach.

It hurts. But what hurts worse is when you explain that it's upset or offended you, and they just won't apologize.

Remember that feeling the next time the roles are reversed. It doesn't matter if you were only joking, it doesn't matter if you were angry and you just had to let it out, and it doesn't matter if you don't think you did anything wrong. What matters is that someone is hurting because of you, and you need to take accountability for that.

You don't get to decide what upsets someone or not. You don't get to pick and choose what is offensive to someone else. You don't get tell someone what they can and can't be hurt by.

You don't have to be sorry for what you said or did, but you should apologize for causing someone pain. A simple "I'm sorry I upset you" goes a long way.

Apologizing gives you the opportunity to reflect on how the things you say or do affect the ones around you, especially the ones you care about most. It's a chance to learn more about the people closest to you and an even better chance to learn more about yourself. It's a sign of maturity and growth.

It's 2019, people. Let's grow up and be kind.