Say it Like You Mean It

The phrase, "I'm sorry," is just as overused as the phrase, "I love you." People just throw it out there without realizing they need detailed support for saying these things. If you do not mean it, then what is the point of saying it? Just like saying, "I love you," saying, "I am sorry," means absolutely nothing if the person who is saying it is not really sorry. The person supposedly accepting this apology can normally tell if the person is sincere or not, just as if someone was to tell them that they loved them. Sometimes truth and deceit are easy to detect. I recently read an article title "Sandy Springs: The lost art of the humble apology," by Jim Osterman from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Like any other journalist these days, his story focuses on Tiger Woods and his apology. Osterman feels like Woods' apology is not sincere. He writes about how a meaningful apology would be a heartfelt, "I'm sorry," followed by a handshake or the deepest look of regret. Nowadays, people just say a simple, "My bad," and move on with their lives. Osterman seems to think that apologies today do not have the same message as they once did. There was a time where someone could tell you they were sorry and truly meant it. The person receiving the apology would know that that person who was giving the apology was never going to do whatever they did again. That concept is not was is behind today's apologies. They are no longer believable. If someone says they are sorry, it is hard to trust them again. People need that same assurance they may have had in the past. Osterman believes that Tiger Woods' apology is not "inclusive" enough. He wants Woods to apologize to the faithful husbands because his actions may have put doubts in the minds of their own wives. Apologies should be encouraged but their should be no major reward if one does apologize. Apologies are expected. One cannot be rewarded for something that is expected by society. According to Osterman, Woods wants a reward that Osterman is unwilling to give. In the end, remember, say it like you mean it.