An Apology
Without
changed behavior
is manipulation;
a pattern repeated for self.
Love means
never having to say Sorry -
that is ridiculous;
no – it does not.
Love means
something different;
accountability
for infinite, authentic love.
Worthy
relationships are based on trust;
safe space for expression,
not withholding -
selfless;
recognition
of hurtful wrong-doing
is the first step to positive
outcomes.
To disregard this truth is to
enable the liar
easy escape
again.
If it’s authentic, an apology is not about blame, it’s about growth – “when we know better, we do better.” It’s about accountability. It’s about acknowledging how a specific behavior impacted another. If you are the receiver of an apology, please don’t accept anything less.
About the Creator
KJ Aartila
A writer of words in northern WI with a small family and a large menagerie.
My Substack
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Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH7 days ago in Critique
Comments (5)
This needed to be said! Your poem did an excellent job in conveying the message. I loved it so much!
So much truth in these few lines...thank you for sharing :)
Excellent words, very true
Words that are so true! I especially like your closing statement "when we know better, we do better."
Exactly right! Very well said.