Posted 14 years ago by XPMedia Network
SOW A LITTLE SORRY
by Amy Dawson
I grew up right outside of Philadelphia. We are quick, we always have something to say, and we will cut you. I learned how to just let the words fly and land where they may. I have had years of accountability with those that love me and weren’t afraid to bring verbal spankings, filing my razor-sharp tongue down to a bitty nubbin. Through many tears and many, many sorrys, I have lost my instinct and my desire to pounce and go for the jugular in those around me.
When I moved back to Philly a short while ago, I started spending a whole lot of time with my family and a whole lot of time with my teenage niece, Abby. Abby with the quick wit, sassy smile and the family's razor-sharp tongue. Often, I would find myself on the receiving end of a verbal beat-down and would stand there stunned, with only the response of "say sorry." She would just look at me, (more like a teen-aged stare-down) but would say nothing. The most extreme occurrences of this would result in her choosing to go to her room until she would apologize. She would be in there for hours before she would finally TEXT me with an apology.
I believe in the principle of sowing and reaping. Should I need pumpkins, I would plant pumpkin seeds. Should I need encouragement, I start encouraging those around me. I need sorrys. Guess what? I gotta sow some sorry. Oh the opportunities! You would think I was on some kind of massive offending spree. The things my family would get mad at-- I made the cake-like brownies instead of the fudgy brownies. I brought home Oust instead of Febreeze, or 1% instead of 2% milk. As they were getting upset, I heard a whisper-- "Sow a little sorry." So that's what I did. "I'm sorry. I wanted to make something nice and didn't realize you would have preferred the fudgy brownies. I will know for next time." "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you wanted Febreeze instead." "I'm sorry. I was looking at the expiration dates and must have reached down on the wrong shelf for the milk."
These are just a few examples of things that could have caused arguments before. I mean, come on. Who gets really angry over brownies? Knowing that tangled up in all kinds of crazy was the opportunity to sow the words "I'm sorry" was motivation to turn from arguing to sowing.
After weeks of sowing, the harvest finally came in. Following some kind of teen-aged, snarky nonsense, I said, “Listen. The only way you can make it right is if you just say sorry. That's all it takes." And she said it. Almost in a whisper. "Sorry." ~ I can't describe how happy I was right then. It made all the apologizing for having bad breath, not having change for a dollar, or buying blue sports drink instead of the other blue sports drink really seem worth it. It was worth it to hear that one word that clears the air and makes everything okay again.
Since that day, there have been a million opportunities to say, "I'm sorry." It hasn’t been all angels singing and babies laughing either. Sometimes I get, "I'm sorry that your foot was in the way when I stomped on it" or “I’m sorry that I high-fived your head” or "I'm sorry that you havea giant zit in the center of your forehead that makes you look like a cyclops." I’ll take those sorrys, too. They make me laugh. Plus, it's good practice for her--to keep saying it until it becomes part of her everyday language.
If you’re all stocked up on pumpkins and your wallet is doing fine, maybe you are in need of something else. You know what you have to do. You gotta start sowin’. Ask for opportunities. There are plenty of opportunities to sow a little sorry.
Suggested Resource: Inside Insights CD Set
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Dawson is an author of several blogs that focus on the hilarity of everyday life. She has been part of the XP team for many years. Amy spends time writing poetry, blogs, children's stories, and preforming stand up comedy.
adawson@xpmedia.com
by Amy Dawson
I grew up right outside of Philadelphia. We are quick, we always have something to say, and we will cut you. I learned how to just let the words fly and land where they may. I have had years of accountability with those that love me and weren’t afraid to bring verbal spankings, filing my razor-sharp tongue down to a bitty nubbin. Through many tears and many, many sorrys, I have lost my instinct and my desire to pounce and go for the jugular in those around me.
When I moved back to Philly a short while ago, I started spending a whole lot of time with my family and a whole lot of time with my teenage niece, Abby. Abby with the quick wit, sassy smile and the family's razor-sharp tongue. Often, I would find myself on the receiving end of a verbal beat-down and would stand there stunned, with only the response of "say sorry." She would just look at me, (more like a teen-aged stare-down) but would say nothing. The most extreme occurrences of this would result in her choosing to go to her room until she would apologize. She would be in there for hours before she would finally TEXT me with an apology.
I believe in the principle of sowing and reaping. Should I need pumpkins, I would plant pumpkin seeds. Should I need encouragement, I start encouraging those around me. I need sorrys. Guess what? I gotta sow some sorry. Oh the opportunities! You would think I was on some kind of massive offending spree. The things my family would get mad at-- I made the cake-like brownies instead of the fudgy brownies. I brought home Oust instead of Febreeze, or 1% instead of 2% milk. As they were getting upset, I heard a whisper-- "Sow a little sorry." So that's what I did. "I'm sorry. I wanted to make something nice and didn't realize you would have preferred the fudgy brownies. I will know for next time." "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you wanted Febreeze instead." "I'm sorry. I was looking at the expiration dates and must have reached down on the wrong shelf for the milk."
These are just a few examples of things that could have caused arguments before. I mean, come on. Who gets really angry over brownies? Knowing that tangled up in all kinds of crazy was the opportunity to sow the words "I'm sorry" was motivation to turn from arguing to sowing.
After weeks of sowing, the harvest finally came in. Following some kind of teen-aged, snarky nonsense, I said, “Listen. The only way you can make it right is if you just say sorry. That's all it takes." And she said it. Almost in a whisper. "Sorry." ~ I can't describe how happy I was right then. It made all the apologizing for having bad breath, not having change for a dollar, or buying blue sports drink instead of the other blue sports drink really seem worth it. It was worth it to hear that one word that clears the air and makes everything okay again.
Since that day, there have been a million opportunities to say, "I'm sorry." It hasn’t been all angels singing and babies laughing either. Sometimes I get, "I'm sorry that your foot was in the way when I stomped on it" or “I’m sorry that I high-fived your head” or "I'm sorry that you havea giant zit in the center of your forehead that makes you look like a cyclops." I’ll take those sorrys, too. They make me laugh. Plus, it's good practice for her--to keep saying it until it becomes part of her everyday language.
If you’re all stocked up on pumpkins and your wallet is doing fine, maybe you are in need of something else. You know what you have to do. You gotta start sowin’. Ask for opportunities. There are plenty of opportunities to sow a little sorry.
Suggested Resource: Inside Insights CD Set
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Dawson is an author of several blogs that focus on the hilarity of everyday life. She has been part of the XP team for many years. Amy spends time writing poetry, blogs, children's stories, and preforming stand up comedy.
adawson@xpmedia.com
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