Skip to main content

"Sorry"


I have always felt that as Canadians we use the word, "sorry" in excess. But it was during my recent shopping trip to Giant Tiger that I thought, we apologize for things way more than we need to. The store is very tight with lots of merchandise, meeting another cart means you must maneuver to get around each other. All, I could hear was a steady stream of "Sorry" as we all tried to get out of each other's way. Saying "sorry", just flies out of our mouths especially when we are in each other's space. It is more of a way of being polite than being sorry, because that is what we do in Canada.  

This is a perfect example of how apologetic we are. I was out walking when I saw a woman backing out of her driveway. She was looking the other way and just kept on backing up. She never looked my way, so I just waited for her to back up. When she turned and saw me waiting for her, she went into a state of shock and mouthed "I'm sorry" many times. She quickly pulled back up in her driveway so I could go by, even though I waved her on. She remained in a state of disbelief, clearly, she thought she had nearly run over me. I cleared the driveway, she backed out and once on the road she rolled down her window, to apologize one more time. She was truly sorry.  

Did you realize we say "sorry" like "sore-ee". We emphasize "sore" in sorry. Women say "sorry" more than men. In Canada saying, "I'm sorry" is known as reflexive courtesy. There are a few theories as to why Canadians apologize so quickly and so often. One is we inherited an awkwardness as a byproduct of British settlement. Canadian identity has a looseness to it. Saying "I'm sorry" is a quick way to dodge conflict. Being quick to apologize and minimize conflict is a strategy best employed by people working to make their own situation as pleasant as possible. Historically, Canada has been recognized as a nation of kindness, empathy and apologizing for their mistakes.   

In the U.S. issuing an apology is often framed as an admission of inadequacy, weakness or quilt. In Canada we introduced "The Apology Act" in 2009. It was developed to give lawyers a fair chance of defending clients who were never guilty but apologized to the aggrieved all the same.

We should be proud to be known around the world as a polite country. Right now, we are fighting back and maybe not as polite as we used to be. By wearing a Canadian flag pin, saying "sorry" and "eh", it makes it clear to everyone, you are dealing with someone from Canada. Who would ever want it any other way?



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Easter Baking

Easter is a holiday that is steeped with tradition and reflection. It holds a different meaning for each of us. Every Easter I reflect on how it was when I was a kid, way back in the dark ages, and how everything has changed so much. For many families it is a time to come together to celebrate the traditions that are meaningful to them.  Easter is a sacred time for Christians as they celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ . Easter is known as a  time for rebirth, hope and new beginnings.                                      I doubt anyone has a family memory that can trump the "Dixon Family Egg Hunt". My Dad was one of 10 children in his family. They were never all at home at the same time, but there were probably at least 6 or 7 kids on the egg hunt each year. Their dear mother would dye 14 dozen eggs with no food coloring. All I know is beets make red eggs. Dad would speak of h...
3 comments
Read more

Just put your head down and do it!

I recently attended a competition at my gym. By attending I mean I simply watched and volunteered. The CrossFit competition was called the "Grit Games" which explains how grueling it was. The competitors were in a zone and did their absolute best to finish what they had started. The competition was a timed event and as they neared the end of their time and the tank appeared to be empty, they just put their head down and did it. Not one single person quit, that was not an option.   Waves of Hope recently had a practice day which started in the morning. We got in the boat, and there were a few more waves than usual, so the decision was made to paddle to the other side of the lake, where it was calmer. It is moments like that where I am in absolute awe. The steersperson is in position at the back of the boat calling the shots. The coach has her voice turned up. The long-time paddlers are set and ready to go. I have to say one more time, I have the utmost respect for the long-tim...
2 comments
Read more

Final Requests

I was just rolling through Facebook as I often do, when this touching post caught my eye. A final request was made by an elementary schoolteacher in Georgia. Before she passed, she asked that instead of flowers that people bring backpacks filled with school supplies to her funeral. Her final request resulted in hundreds of backpacks from friends, family and strangers. Children she had never met will have what they need to shape their future.  At the time of death, people want to do something. Often it is a donation to a charity either identified by the family or of the donor's choice. I have to admit, I am poor at giving to a memoriam, I'm not sure why. But I would certainly buy and fill a backpack. I don't think I am alone when I say, I love creativity. I am also all in when it is for a cause and especially if children are involved.  This woman is leaving a legacy behind. She just wanted to help children as the last thing she did. She had no idea the magnitude of her reque...
4 comments
Read more