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Make overdue apologies part of your spring cleaning
By Lauren | March 24, 2008
Now that spring is finally here (although the folks who are still suffering through lingering snow and winter floods may not quite believe it yet), many of us will be turning to spring cleaning. It’s time to throw open the windows, sweep out old dust, sort through the clutter, and get a fresh start.
Although Americans celebrate New Year’s Eve at the end of the winter holidays, in other parts of the world the new year begins on the first day of spring. It’s traditional in those regions to start the new year with a clean slate. Debts are paid, old grudges are forgiven, and outstanding promises are fulfilled so that everyone can start the new year on the right foot.
What a great tradition!
As we move into the lengthening days of spring, it’s a great time to clear up any misunderstandings in your professional and personal relationships. Is there someone you’ve been avoiding because there’s an outstanding dispute between you? Is someone carrying a grudge against you? Is there a relationship you ended in anger because it was easier to walk away than to admit you did something wrong? If so, now is a great time to swallow your pride and apologize.
As you clean out your closets and dump the last of the holiday fruitcake, take a little time to think about whether you owe anyone an apology and, if so, how to go about making it. Map out a plan, then do it. You’ll enjoy the bright spring days far more if you take the opportunity to clean bad feeling out of any of your relationships with an apology.
Topics: Apologies |