Stop Saying Sorry

I had a complete “A-Ha” moment (and not the 80’s band…tho, I do have “Take Me On” by A-Ha on my playlist…no, it’s A-Ha as in “life changing moment”).  It was so simple. So obvious. So…momentous. STOP. SAYING. SORRY.

These 3 words of wise-mom-dom were said by Danielle Smith (@DanielleSmithTV) during a “Balancing Mom-ME-Hood” panel discussion on my recent Fisher-Price/Royal Caribbean trip. Danielle was referring to how she stopped saying “I’m sorry…” when she was late returning e-mails (because sometimes Momhood and life happens when you should be getting back to emails – we’ve all been there right?!). She noted she now switches-it-up from saying “I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to you…” to “I’m very excited to be working with you on this.”

A small switch but something that really hit home with me.

Perhaps, it’s my Canadian-ism (it’s true we say sorry all the time…even when it isn’t our fault…”I’m sorry it’s snowing”.)

Perhaps, it’s my Mom guilt (from being sorry I didn’t go on a field trip to being sorry I didn’t make a better dinner…sorry hangs off me like a bad, invisible, mullet).

I. Am. Always. Sorry.

And Danielle’s wise words really hit home to me.

Stop. Saying. Sorry.

A PR representative won’t care if I’m a day late and I’m an “I’m sorry” short for responding to their email. Switching-it-up to “I’m excited to work with you on this” makes me look engaged.

What does “I’m sorry” look like? Nothing. Crickets. Bueller…

I’d prefer to look engaged.

And I’m owning that it’s not my fault that it’s snowing…or that I missed a field trip because I have a baby at home to take care of…or that dinner isn’t Martha Stewart quality.

This past week – I have NOT been sorry.

And it feels lighter. And more productive. And more engaged.

Why, do you think, Moms feel the need to say “I’m Sorry”?