Oh God, is that title too harsh? I’m so sorry.
Hi, I’m Michelle and I’m an apologiholic.
I was just realizing that today. Every email I’ve sent begins with “I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry for getting back to you so late.
I’m sorry, but I’ve changed my mind.
I’m sorry for the confusion.
I’m sorry for all the emails!
Do I really screw up so much that I must ask for forgiveness for every little thing? I don’t know but it’s truly exhausting.
I need to stop feeling guilty about my imperfections and things that are often beyond my control. I need to have confidence in the fact that I’m doing the best that I can.
Some alternatives to the awful S word:
Thanks for your patience.
I’ve come up with a new plan.
Let me clear the confusion.
Hello again!
This is my New Day’s Resolution. Stop with apologies. I’ve got nothing to be sorry about.
Great plan. My boyfriend is working on curbing this very same behavior. Go you!
It’s crazy how often we do this without realizing it, and when we do it’s scary how much we say the S word. I love your alternatives and need to inject them into my own response set!
I think this is a great resolution. I often find myself apologizing for things that I shouldn’t really be apologizing for. I think that your alternatives are fantastic.
Awe, you have the Canadian disease. We apologize for everything up here. Last night at rehearsals some girl was telling a story, flailing her arms, and smoked me in the head. I immediately apologized. For you know, my head being in the way of her left hook.
Oh man, I do that too! I’m gonna take a page from you and try and stop apologizing as well! I take it you’re a people pleaser? I know I am!
i like this attitude!
you should be sorry for wasting my time with this post. JK! <3
i definitely need to take note on that as well, i say sorry in too many emails as well. that or i’m over thankful, it’s sort of weird, haha.
That’s one of my New Year’s resolutions! I think women, especially, have been conditioned to be sorry sorry sorry all the time, so much that we don’t even notice how much we’re apologizing all over the place for things we aren’t even sorry for.
Was that a little ranty? Sorry.
Gah, I am FOREVER apologizing. I’m in a running club, and I passed someone on Saturday and said, “I’m sorry! Passing on the left!” Uhhh, pretty sure being faster is nothing to be sorry about. It’s so conditioned.
I do the SAME thing, and I hate it. I feel like such a weenie all the time. You are an inspiration.
Oh man, I do this too! Gr.
I do it too, I think being like that also shows we’re decent people, Michelle. But saying it less also helps, especially for the times we don’t do anything at all.
This blog post is the perfect analogy of leaving your 20s and entering your 30s. Growing up is hard to do! =)
I just saw an episode of .. wardrobe make over? Or something? On Bravo? About this girl who did the same thing. She needed a psychologist to get over the problem…
Really? Wardrobe makeover on Bravo. I believe someone needs to apologize to manhood .
My boyfriend is an apologiholic too … it irritates the crap out of me because I HATE it when he apologizes to me! It makes me feel superior, less like an equal and a team. I always call him out on it. And catch myself before doing the same thing. Good for you for NOT being sorry!
I LOVE THIS! When I was in yoga teacher training, we were actually taught to say “rather” instead of “i’m sorry,” because “I’m sorry” makes it about YOU and not them, and you’re serving THEM, so… yeah. Instead of “I’m sorry! Left hand up!” It’s “rather” instead. I dunno – I like where you’re going with this. :)
Go you! I’m going to work on this too. <3
thanks! i’d been meaning to email somebody since november about nothing urgent obviously, but now it’s february and what excuse do i have now? “hello again” is perfect.
Um, hell yes. Except you can maybe be sorry for not visiting me in San Francisco yet. Maybe. Also? Come visit!
You are not alone in this. I’ve flat out been told I say “sorry” too much… Good resolution to have. Maybe we should all attempt it!
im so with you on this one.
I’m sorry, but you totally read my mind.
I do that a lot too! It’s something I also am working to be more conscious of and thus to do less. Because it can inadvertently cause people to treat you differently, too, I’ve noticed.
Dude, seriously. I’m the same way.
I think that the majority of women do this – which is something I read about in a book recently. Women are trained to be over-apologizers, which is a little ridiculous. When you think of it, how many men are like that? I can’t think of any that apologize as much as I do.
Weird, right? Weird, and lame.
Heehee.
I’m definitely working on this in my own life. Lovely post with a lovely reminder!
So true. . . I love this thought. Deep down, I always feel the same. Michelle, thanks for the reminder & the share. Bless u!!