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Here Goes:
1. If you are
a parent, you'll know just how magical it is to communicate with your children. To hear them express ideas, talk
about their experiences, share their feelings. Sadly, communications between children and parents are not always
what they could be. Parents are often forced to multi-task trying to keep the good ship family afloat
and so can loose touch with their young children. Parents are also human, and may say or do things when raising their
children that cause their children to establish emotional barriers to communication that can sometimes last
forever. Our parents are wonderful and there is every resaon why we should make every effort to communicate well
with them. They are our biggest fans and supporters, often selfless in their dedication to our well-being.
We may not agree with everything they do or say, but find anyone who will love you as deeply and as unselfishly as your
parents and you have found an angel! Simon says, call your parents before the weekend and
tell them that you love them and appreciate the wonderful people that they are. Don't let the little voice inside
your head tell you that it's a silly idea. You'll make you parents day or week and maybe even open
up new possibilities for communication, if you need them.
2. I saw a movie many years ago in which the
lead character advised a younger man that the way to a happy marriage was to say sorry at least once a day.
At the time, I had no idea what that meant. How could one say sorry when one hadn't done anything wrong? Surely,
there had to be a good reason for saying sorry? One just can't say sorry without feeling that a sorry
was appropriate or due? I now realize that the advice was more that sorry is a state of mind. Sorry recognises
that your right is often someone else's wrong. That what you may not find offensive may be offensive
to someone else. That someone's reaction to a state of affairs or a comment is neither an over reaction or under
reaction but merely their reaction. The over or under is your judgment. That every set of facts can be interpreted
differently and that your interpretation is just one of many. That sometimes the difference between a restful night
and a sleepless one is an apology. That the difference between great communication and no communication at
all can be a simple sorry. How many people have you refused to apologise to because you felt that you were right and
they were wrong and as a consequence your communications have been poor or non existent. Apologies are too
often considered a sign of weakness. In my view, a genuine apology is always a sign of strength. It is not
easy to make oneself vulnerable and a genuine apology can make one feel vulnerable. But given in love and as an
act of generocity, any sense of vulnerability is an illusion. You can lose nothing and can only gain. There is
no obligation to apologize. But if an apology could create better communication or offer you or someone else
in your life a more restful night or peace of mind, why would you not apologise? There is always a reason to apologise
and an apology is powerful medicine. You lose nothing by apologising, unless your apology is empty. Don't
apologise to manipulate someone. Don't patronise with your apologies. An apology should be given
only if one recognize a reason for apologizing. And as I have said, you simply need to look and you'll
find many excellent reasons in every situation. An apology should be given freely and with no expectation of return. An
apology is a gift to the giver and reciever. An apology can be act of mercy. Simon says,
find opportunities this week to catch up on your apologies. You don't need to make a production of them.
A simple well placed sorry is enough. Be at peace with all responses. By the way, an apology can be
powerful medicine even if the person to whom you need to apologize is no longer with us.
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