People often mock
Canadians
because they say ‘sorry’
a LOT.
Those people assume
that ‘sorry’
is
either
the sympathy type
of sorry
(I’m sorry you’re suffering.)
or
the taking the blame type
of sorry
(I’m sorry I did this to you.
It won’t happen again.).
It is understood
in Canada
to be the third type
of sorry,
which is
an
I’ll take the blame
although I don’t warrant it
because I’m sorry you’re suffering.
I don’t want to argue about this.
I want
to move us to healing
(or forgetting)
that suffering
as soon as possible
sorry.
That type of sorry
not only defuses
the situation
but it puts the apologizer
in control of the situation
(which is why
some Canadians will
argue
over who was truly sorry).
Stopping a possible fight
is seen
as an act
of strength
in Canada.
Saying ‘sorry’
isn’t a sign of weakness.
It is a means
to grasp control.
And Canadians do that
a LOT.
You could do this too.