✨Word of Wonder: Sorry✨

In the quiet, farthest corner of a forgotten room, there lay an old letter. It was creased and worn from years of being tucked away, hidden among the forgotten relics of time. The ink, once bold and sure, had faded into delicate shades of brown, barely clinging to the paper that had absorbed so many years of sorrow. The words themselves, though scrawled hastily, carried weight that could never be lifted. "I’m sorry," they read, over and over, like a chant that had lost all its meaning. Each letter seemed like an apology not just for an action, but for an entire existence—a quiet yearning for a forgiveness that would never come.

The letter was untouched by time's passage, for how could it be? Its sorrow had become eternal. And yet, despite its best efforts, it was unread. The pages lay flat and fragile, a symbol of remorse forever hidden. Outside, the world moved on—seasons turned, days passed, the sun rose and set, but in that forgotten room, nothing changed. The air hung heavy with an aching silence, as if the room itself mourned a loss it could not express.

There was beauty in the stillness, in the quiet patience of the letter's existence. It sat among dust and shadows, yet it carried with it the full weight of an apology. An apology that, though never spoken aloud, was felt in the space between the words, in the very folds of the paper that held them. A sorry that was beautiful in its tragedy. For there was no redemption here—only the acceptance of what was. And in that acceptance, there was peace. At least there was beauty.

When I first think of the word sorry I picture the shadow of man sitting in a subdued fashion with his head down to where his chin is touching his chest. The whole scene appears in black and white and feels watery in essence.

My train of thought tells me that there are different levels and calibers to being sorry. I’d like to take this opportunity to explore some of the variants of “sorry” that are most obvious to me.

The first edition of “sorry” is probably the most common. Let’s call it the “common courtesy sorry.”

We all know this type. You might turn a corner too fast at the grocery store, narrowly avoiding a collision with another shopper, and then drop a polite, “Ope, sorry ‘bout that,” before continuing on your merry way. Or perhaps you skip the line at a four-way stop and offer the infamous apology wave. With this particular form of “sorry,” there’s no deep-seated conflict; it’s simply courtesy.

The next form of “sorry” is a bit more personal. Maybe you had to cancel plans with a friend, and you know they may be let down or even disappointed, especially if they rearranged other commitments to accommodate you. Sometimes, things happen — you might’ve fallen ill or had something else urgent come up. Along the same lines, perhaps you accidentally spilled a glass of wine on your mother’s rug or broke a cherished dish. This is the “accidental sorry.” This type you feel badly for what happened but it was an accident.

The third and final version of “sorry” is perhaps the most introspective. You’ve betrayed someone, violated their trust, or even lied about them. You’ve messed up badly. Your initial instinct might be to excuse your behavior, not wanting others to think poorly of you. This is the wrong approach. Kill your ego and feel the guilt and shame.

If you’ve messed up, you must first admit that to yourself. The longer you avoid it, the more the toxicities will grow. You can’t be truly sorry unless you look inward and confront the reality of your actions.

If you’re unwilling to do so, you risk staining your essence. You may become bitter and ugly inside. You might even adopt a victim mentality as a way to deflect blame for your actions. But this is a trap — the darker it gets, the harder it is to see your way out.

You might start lying to yourself, trying to justify your actions instead of facing the guilt and shame you’ve rightfully earned. No real growth can happen here, and you’ll likely repeat the same mistakes in the future because you’ve found a way to justify them.

It’s hard to admit when you’re wrong. It’s hard to admit that you have flaws. But at times, we all make mistakes. Take ownership, and embrace the winds of self-discovery. Use these experiences to build a stronger foundation for who you are. Become better, or wallow in your own self-loathing and victim mentality.

This type of “sorry” is the most painful. Growth is painful. This apology requires remorse, sorrow, and accountability. Will you remain stuck in the mud, or will you rise to drier ground?

This WOW (Word of Wonder) was submitted by reader Natalie S. I hope I did some justice my friend.

At this time, I’d like to make an apology to all my readers. It’s been far too long since I’ve published, and it’s rather disappointing. I could sit here and tell you all the excuses I have for not writing lately. Instead, I’ll practice what I preach. I haven’t put in the time to be thoughtful or introspective. I’ve been selfishly stuck inside my own mind, trying to sort through the trash and treasure of my thoughts. I’m hoping this Word of Wonder can break the ice of my mental block and get me back on track.

Together, we are all perfectly average. I love you all.

AverageBenjamin