Making mistakes is part of being human. But sometimes the mistakes that we make could hurt or offend the people we love. And to make up for it, we ask for forgiveness but doing this is not always as simple as uttering the words. It takes a strong person to say that they are sorry and a much stronger one to forgive.
Asking for forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do because when we apologize, we also swallow our ego and accept the mistakes we did. But sometimes we apologize not because we’re at fault, but because our relationship means a lot more.
Here are 12 ways to say sorry and to help you make up with your partner.
1. Give them a hand-written letter.
We all know that apologizing personally is pretty hard to do especially if it harms our precious ego. But if you really can’t face your partner because of your guilt, you can write a letter to show them how sorry you are. Make a simple hand-written letter and express what you can’t personally tell him/her. Love letters might sound a bit old school but it never disappoints.
2. Buy or bake a cake for them.
Cakes are usually made for celebrations but they are also one of the best ways to make an apology. Buy or make a cake for your partner with his/her favorite flavor and be sure to put a very short sorry message and a frowning face on it. You will surely brighten up their day and they’ll appreciate the effort that you did just to make things alright between the both of you.
ALSO READ: 10 Ways to Make Your Girlfriend Smile When She’s Mad at You
3. Give them flowers.
Flowers are a sign of love and appreciation and sending them his/her favorite ones would definitely lighten up the mood. Handing it personally is also a good idea so you can have a chance to let him/her know how bad you felt about hurting them.
4. Be extra kind to them.
Being kind to your partner may be a usual thing for you to do but showing extra kindness will do the trick to put things back to normal. Do things for him/her that you don’t usually do, like fixing or changing something they broke, or setting up their favorite movie so you could watch it together (even if it means watching something you don’t like). They will certainly notice the kind gestures and would be pleased to know that you’re really trying to resolve both your misunderstandings.
5. Surprise them with their favorite food.
Everybody loves food and it is sometimes hard to resist especially if it’s your favorite. Surprise your lover with his/her fave food and try to talk things out about your arguments. In this way, you will not only make his/her stomach happy but you will also fix your relationship.
6. Give them a special gift.
Think of something that will make your partner be a little less mad at you. Maybe something he/she likes or been wanting for a long time. Give it to them personally and let them know how sincerely sorry you are for hurting them. With that special gift, you will sooner be forgiven because no one can ever resist on something they like or been wanting to own.
7. Sing them a song.
One of the romantic ways of saying sorry is singing it. Think of the most relatable song you know that would express what you want to say to you partner. It doesn’t matter if you can’t hit the right notes. As long as you sing from the heart for the person you love, expect that he/she will appreciate it and forgive you.
8. Use sticky notes.
Sticky notes are best for this kind of situation. Write the reasons why you love your partner and also include funny things that would make them laugh. Stick it on the bathroom mirror, on their desk, on the door, or where it could easily be seen. Once they read it, they would definitely adore every single note that you’ve written because small gestures are appreciated more by people.
9. Make a collaged photo of you together.
Photos remind us about the memories we made and shared with people. And showing your lover the good ones you have will make them reconsider making more with you because it will remind them how happy and loved they were when you were together.
10. Take them somewhere fun.
Take your partner out on a date to somewhere he/she will enjoy. You could take them to an amusement park, a beach, or somewhere he/she loves to be, to show them that you’re really sorry. Take this time to make another good memory and enjoy the moment together. That will be the best way to make up for the damaged done.
11. Listen to them.
Yes, you read it right. Oftentimes, the best way to say sorry is listening. When you hurt someone, he/she will naturally say words of resentment or disappointment to you. Show to your significant other that you feel sorry by listening, not only to what he/she says, but also by listening to his/her heart. Be compassionate and understand the pain you caused to your partner. Avoid making excuses or alibis.
ALSO READ: 10 Tips on How to be a Better Listener in Your Relationship
12. Show hope and change.
Being sorry and asking for forgiveness is not a one-time feat. Forgiveness is not only asked but also earned. This is why you should not just celebrate and stop when your partner tells you “I forgive you”. Make sure you continue keeping that forgiveness you’ve just received and persist on rebuilding the trust you have broken. Change for the better, be consistent, and do your best to never do the same mistake again!
Forgiveness does a lot more than just accepting your partner. And owning up to your mistakes doesn’t only mean making up with them after they were hurt. Forgiving and apologizing restore the relationship between couples and help them to find inner peace and happiness to build a stronger bond.
It may sometimes hurt our ego to say sorry and to forgive the ones who hurt us but in the end, we know we’d still choose our valuable relationship not only because it matters more, but because love will always be greater than pride.
