I finally wrote down the apology to my old crew guy for that job in Phoenix

It was a big custom home repaint, maybe five years back, and the owner was breathing down our necks. I was stressed about the deadline and snapped at this kid, Mike, for a small drip on a window trim. I mean, it was a simple fix, but I made a big deal in front of everyone, said something like 'are you even trying?' I saw his face just shut down. We finished the job, but he quit a month later. I never said sorry, just let him go. I wrote the letter last night, saying I was wrong to talk to him like that, that he was a good worker and I let my stress get the best of me. I'm not sending it, it's way too late for that, but just putting it on paper felt like a weight lifted. Has anyone else done that, written an apology you know you'll never actually give to someone?

3 comments

3 Comments

victor77919d ago

I wrote one to a guy named Carlos from a framing crew in Austin. It helps just to get it out, even if you never send it.

spencer78219d ago

Actually, getting it out can make things worse. You dwell on it more by writing it all down, and it just keeps the bad feelings fresh in your mind. It's like picking at a scab. The whole idea of an unsent letter just lets you practice being upset without actually dealing with the real problem. Sometimes you gotta just move on and forget, not give the memory more space in your head.

viola_allen18d ago

Depends on the person. For some people writing it down gets it out of their head for good. Lets them close the book. For others it just feeds the anger. You gotta know which one you are. Blanket advice like "just move on" is useless.