I never thought I had a problem with saying "Sorry" until I apologized to a chair.
"Sorry!" I gasped as I barreled past, almost knocking it to the floor. "I mean--nothing--chair--" and then I stopped talking, because I realized I looked like a big enough fool already.
But this issue of over-apologetic-ness has come to a point where even my biology teacher told me to "stop saying sorry!" Apparently, now that I'm aware of the word, I use it everywhere. I say, "Sorry" when I'm beginning to ask a question to a busy person, "Sorry" after a near-miss collision in the school hallway, "Sorry" to car drivers who patiently wait for me to run across the street (even though they probably can't hear me mumble)...all this despite the fact that, really, I've done nothing wrong.
With this unnecessary use of the word you might think that I'm an awesome apologizer (which, by the way, is not a word, though it totally should be). Not true. I can't remember the last time I apologized without the strange habit of crossing my fingers to invalidate it (blame it on a childhood filled with perceived injustices in sibling disputes, alright?)
So yeah, I really have a problem with the word "Sorry."
Sorry!
"Sorry!" I gasped as I barreled past, almost knocking it to the floor. "I mean--nothing--chair--" and then I stopped talking, because I realized I looked like a big enough fool already.
But this issue of over-apologetic-ness has come to a point where even my biology teacher told me to "stop saying sorry!" Apparently, now that I'm aware of the word, I use it everywhere. I say, "Sorry" when I'm beginning to ask a question to a busy person, "Sorry" after a near-miss collision in the school hallway, "Sorry" to car drivers who patiently wait for me to run across the street (even though they probably can't hear me mumble)...all this despite the fact that, really, I've done nothing wrong.
With this unnecessary use of the word you might think that I'm an awesome apologizer (which, by the way, is not a word, though it totally should be). Not true. I can't remember the last time I apologized without the strange habit of crossing my fingers to invalidate it (blame it on a childhood filled with perceived injustices in sibling disputes, alright?)
So yeah, I really have a problem with the word "Sorry."
Sorry!
6 comments:
Your perfect writing style... now pierced by this kind of idiosyncratic, conversational language. Suddenly your blog has a voice which sounds more like yours? Or is this a reflection of your versatility as a writer?
...or, maybe just frustrated by too much self-awareness.
It sounds like you're Canadian:)
I have the same problem! What else can you say to get the point across to people that you're sorry? "Sorry" is pretty much the only word for it.
Saying sorry or being apologetic are the special skills that reflect the respectfulness in our living approach with the society. But, you do not need to look down yourself when doing so, but can be proud that you recognize the living adjustments that others are making for you and you are making for others.
Are you Canadian?
I feel like that I have a trouble saying sorry too! my friends tells me to stop, but it is so hard.
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