If there is happiness in human life, sorrow is not far behind. Likewise, if we have many friends, we are bound to have an equal number of foes. Life is no bed of roses but it is not filled only with thorns either. I would describe our lives as a motley of multiple flavours that enrich our existence.

Mistakes too are a part of our lives. As to err is human, we make many mistakes. While some of these blunders can easily be brushed aside, others are hard to ignore. When we commit grave offences, a paltry ‘sorry’ is rendered meaningless and even seems a tad callous. It might be easy for one to say ‘sorry’ when s/he steps on someone’s foot while walking on a crowded street. The victim is likely to forgive the offender easily as the latter’s fault is unintentional and small.

But it’s a different matter altogether when one hurts a person close to him. The inadvertent words that escape yours truly’s waspish, whip-like tongue, for instance, have hurt more than a person. What does one do at those times?

I have often hurt the feelings of my closest kith and kin and jeopardised my most valued relations with words I let slip in the heat of the movement. Each time I do that, guilt weighs me down as not even the most egregious human folly can. Many a time, I wish I could ‘unsay’ the nasty stuff that escapes my lips.

I am sure many of us must have had similar experiences. We commit a grave mistake, quite unintentionally, only to regret it later. In such situations, I have always found that honesty is the best policy. Dumping our egos into dustbins, we have to be humble enough to accept our faults and admit to our mistakes. We should let the person we have hurt know how ashamed we are of our words, even if they were not intentional. Sooner or later, that person is bound to forgive. It might take a few moments or a few days, but forgiven we will be.

Forgiveness not only mends old ties but also makes them stronger. So next time, rather than just say sorry when you hurt someone, admit to your mistake and do everything you can to allay the hurt you have caused.

Never forget to offer a heartfelt apology when one is called for rather than aim for quick fix through a brusque ‘sorry.’