Tuesday, April 28, 2009

"I'm Sorry" Cards Don't Come in a Big Box

When you have a big event in which you are honored, loved adored, helped, whatever, it is customary to buy the Costco-sized box of "Thank You" notes and send them to everyone you know.

Or, if you are extremely clever and crafty, you have a supply of gorgeous, stamped cards on hand all of the time when there are special thank you's involved. You are so organized that you actually stock up on your supply of breath-taking stationary at a "card party" with your friends every month.

So what do you do when you have a week where you've put your foot in your mouth so many times that you can constantly smell shoe leather? (Where DOES this expression come from anyway? The problem is NOT my foot in my mouth. If my foot was in my mouth then I might be quiet, and then I wouldn't have any problems. The traditional "put a sock in it" is much more apropos in my case.)

A week when you feel so confident in your own ability to dazzle people that you forget how dazzling those in your life are?

A week that your own skin feels so uncomfortable that you'd trade places with an ostrich if only to bury your head in the sand for an hour or two?

A week when you are certain enough of your own big mouth that you KNOW those few awkward looks from people days later are not accidental?

"Thank you" cards are sold in bulk. "I'm sorry" cards are sold as singles. I found this out yesterday when I hunted around a few different stores for the $5 budget box. Perhaps this is the real lesson: if I remember to be more grateful, maybe I won't find as many accidental opportunities to offend.

So, if you read here, and I said something stupid to you this week, or acted overbearing, I really am sorry. If that is too general an apology, fire me off a really nasty e-mail telling me exactly how much work my personality needs and I will try to make it up to you. Really.

For those of you that don't read here . . . . well, I'm going to make time today to sit down and write a few notes. And pray earnestly that my nature might be changed.

9 comments:

FoxyJ said...

Yeah, I've had times like that too. A few months ago when I got my new calling I totally took off too hard and had a giant mouth and made a big mess of things. Thankfully we always have the opportunity to apologize and to try and do better. I've realized that if I never felt remorse I'd never feel a desire to change.

Christie said...

This comment isn't so much about today's post as the YM/YW fundraising one. I'm the YW secretary in our ward, and we were told that the YW and YM were NOT to engage in fundraisers. I'm pretty sure that comes from our Stake President. If individuals in those organizations want to do a fundraiser, fine. But it cannot be sponsored by the ward organizations. (Friends of Scouting excepted.) This is a much appreciated policy! It looks like your Stake / Ward ought to look into it. :)

P.S. I have moments when I need the $5 budget box of "I'm Sorry" cards too. We're all human.

Z. Marie said...

I'm sure whatever you said/did isn't that bad!

Unknown said...

I'm not feeling at all offended, but thanks for all of that nice sentiment!
:)
(and I'm sorry)

chris w said...

You know what they need boxes of? "I love you even when you mess up" cards.

Men may be disorganized, but being slow to offend and quick to forgive are things we women need to improve.

You are the best and I love you!

Courtni said...

just by writing that shows how great you are...

and seriously, i love how you write. you put things so well!

oh, and i always buy the generic/flower on the front, blank inside cards in bulk...can be used for anything...from thank you to i'm sorry. :-)

emandtrev said...

Don't be too hard on yourself. It is very easy to be concerned (or frustrated!) with any number of things, so don't let this get you down.

Christy said...

I'm good for this week :)

Kimberly Bluestocking said...

[HUG]