I’ve been told so many times that I say sorry too much. I know I do. It’s a common word in my vocabulary, and I’m often criticized for how much I say it. If I accidentally hit someone, if I am with someone who is hurting in some way, I find it necessary to express to them just how sorry I am for them in their situation. I don’t find it to be a flaw, nor do I think it’s something that I need to change. It’s something that I’m comfortable with and accept as a part of who I am.
I’ve been through a lot in my life. Honestly, we all have. I feel like there are times where all of us have just needed to hear a simple, comforting, “I’m sorry.” Just to know that someone is there for us, and that someone may not empathize with our situation, they sympathize and the effort is so very appreciated. When I’m going through a tough time, I don’t always need a pep talk or for someone to try and diagnose and understand my situation. Sometimes I only need that person to say that they’re sorry, and to know that they’re still there for me.
Maybe that’s why I find myself so often telling people how sorry I am. I’m not always great at reading situations and people and knowing what they need, so that’s usually my starting ground. If for nothing else, I just want to let them know that I’m there for them, through whatever it is they may go through. Until I get a handle on the situation and understand what that person needs, it just seems like the logical choice to me in showing someone that you care for them and want to help them through the rough time that they’re having.
More often than not, I find people chastising me for apologizing so frequently. I don’t mean it as something to annoy someone or a scapegoat to avoid the problem, but until I can wrap my own head around it, that’s how I feel that I can help the most. I know a lot of other people who say sorry as frequently as I do, and they seem to really be the only ones who truly understand. I don’t say sorry because I think it is going to fix any situation or because it’s good to fall back on, but because I know that’s what I would want from someone if I were the one in distress.
So maybe hearing sorry isn’t the thing that people need to hear all the time. I understand that, and I do make an effort to try and understand what people need to hear when they’re struggling. However, I believe that the words "I’m sorry" can show people that while you may not know what to say at the time, you care and will be there for them in any means possible. Maybe hearing “I’m sorry” is annoying after a while, but those two words can also be incredibly healing.
I’m sorry for not stopping saying “I’m sorry.” I’m sorry for being sorry.
I’m sorry.
