The Power of Saying Sorry

Today, two people expressed frustration with me. One was a friend who was upset that I canceled a meeting without advance notice. She had planned her entire day around our time together.

The other was frustrated because they began sharing something with me while they were on speakerphone, and I hadn’t alerted them. I wasn’t being careless or deceptive—I was simply excited and forgot to say something.

In both moments, I felt the urge to explain myself. I wanted to share what came up that caused me to miss the meeting. I wanted to clarify that the speakerphone situation wasn’t intentional. But I didn’t.

Instead, I listened. I acknowledged their frustration. I apologized.

And in both situations, something surprising happened. They simply said okay. They forgave me—without needing my explanation.

That part stayed with me. It reminded me that people don’t always need the full story. Often, they just want to feel seen, respected, and acknowledged. The apology did the work the explanation was trying to do.

There is something powerful—and loving—about saying “I’m sorry” without immediately defending yourself. No justification. No backstory. Just taking responsibility for the impact, even when the intent wasn’t harmful.

Explanations can come later, if they’re needed. But in the moment, an apology says: I see you. Your feelings matter. I’m accountable.

Today reminded me that apologizing isn’t about admitting you’re wrong—it’s about honoring the relationship.