In a political climate like the one in Britain this week the respect of the benches of Westminster have been flipped on their head. Britain has lost all trust in the very house that governs it. It appears that the money we gave them went over and above the duty not in a way to supersede their responsibility but to undermine it and create a new age of politics appearing from the shadows.It took a hefty amount of days for the Prime Minister to say “sorry,” a simple word but one that is considered political suicide. Admission of fault, confessing our wrongdoing and giving some return, if only little, on our previous actions. So why is it so hard? And we don’t only find this in politics; across the board from relationships and friendships there are people everywhere avoiding what seems to be the most difficult word, when in reality it’s truthful, honest and dignified. We have to wonder why sorry seems to be the hardest word?
Everyday across the world sorry is said in many languages, “Desole”, “Lo Siento,” “Entschuldigung,” easy enough to say but in context why do they become unbearable. Why do they possess the connotations of instability and dishonour. Surely as a friend, as a boyfriend or girlfriend, or as a member of the public it would be in our interests to just know the truth.
If the truth provokes anger then are we in the right mind to make a judgement call on our next action. Do we act irrationally? Or does the truth give us a new perspective?
I don’t believe though, that ultimately, it’s the “sorry” that we’re seeking. The sorry as an admission of fault does provide instability and starts to make us insecure of our judgements. What we’re really seeking is a new direction. A better person to fill the post of friend, partner or even Prime Minister.
Even when we get the sorry the damage is done, and sorry being delayed further makes the damage explosive. But still the damage is done. Try a change. A new direction, a new start. Because if we continue saying sorry all our lives then how we can ever know if we’re forgiven. The problem will always be looming, the name of the person you cheated with, the word ‘expenses’ will always crop up and then… an awkward silence. If we don’t wipe the plate, if we don’t start a fresh we can never start over. And we live dragging our ball and chain forever.
And that’s probably why we find it so hard to say sorry; because we know the other party will just walk away. They will find someone else to date, find a new group of friends, or vote for the opposition. And if we don't want to have to say sorry, then there's one simple solution: avoid doing something wrong in the first place.
And then we realise what we can do, we don’t need an apology to move on, we don’t need to wait for them to realise their wrongdoing. We can vote them out, we can move on. Because if someone else has to say sorry then you know you have the power.
So in reality, sorry isn’t the hardest word. Goodbye is. And it’s not them who have the choice of that word. You do. Use it wisely.
