WordFood

Sometimes the most important thing we can say is the simplest: please, thank you, or more importantly, I’m sorry. How often do our egos get in the way when an argument is spiraling, when a little humble pie would stop it in its tracks?
Yesterday morning I was the Phoenix airport on the phone with a service that had done my gutters a while back. I had written a check for $90 and put it under my front door mat. When they came to do the work, they said the check was gone. I later saw that the check had been cashed. There ensued an argument. They sent me collection notices and I in turn sent them the copies of the cancelled check. Finally I had them on the phone at the airport and we were both mad. Apparently someone had stolen my check and cashed it but I wasn’t happy about having to pay another $90 and they weren’t happy about not being paid. I could hear my anger spiraling, and hers. Then I said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get so angry.” And instantly the spiral ended. She apologized as well and she credited me the $90, and we agreed that I’d research the thief.
What fool is going to go to court over $90 to be right? Our parts get drunk on anger and get swept away. Hopefully another part stays sober enough to put the brakes on, eats a little humble pie and takes the first step. Insisting on being right often results in our ruining perfectly good relationships. Gracious WordFood will always raise the conversation to another level.