| Important lessons can be learned by a person's | | | | had to apologize to the silent victim (my friend's wife |
| errors in judgment and mistakes. Recently I learned | | | | who didn't hear my comments). My friend said that it |
| from an error in judgment that I made. The incident | | | | wasn't necessary to apologize to his wife but I |
| occurred when I insulted one of my best friend's | | | | disagreed. I believe that like lies there are two types |
| wife (not done intentionally). This set off a journey | | | | of harm that can be committed against another |
| of internal soul searching on my part.The incident: | | | | person. The first type of harm is a direct harm that |
| While at my friend's house for dinner, I made a | | | | is committed against another person (like hitting a |
| comment that was directed at my friend's wife. She | | | | person). Then there is a silent harm that is committed |
| did not hear the comment but my friend did hear it. | | | | (insulting someone behind their back). In this case I |
| He did not say anything (Didn't want to embarrass | | | | committed the silent harm that wasn't heard by my |
| me in front of her). He knew what I had meant by | | | | friend's wife. I felt that out of respect for my friend |
| the comment but was unhappy with what I said. It | | | | and his wife, I needed to apologize to her and ask |
| was a very insulting comment. A few days went by | | | | for forgiveness. That's exactly what I did.The lessons |
| and then my friend confronted me. Initially I resisted. | | | | I learned came directly from the teachings of my |
| Finally the light bulb went on and I realized that my | | | | religion (Judaism). Once a year, we must ask G-d or |
| actions were very wrong.So what did I learn from | | | | anyone that we have sinned against, for forgiveness. |
| this incident? I learned that even though I try to lead | | | | We are told that we should act this way throughout |
| a good and moral life, I'm human and do make | | | | the whole year.While this exercise was initially very |
| mistakes. I must take action not to let the same | | | | painful, it was extremely rewarding. I was able to |
| mistake to occur again. In this case I admitted | | | | learn something about myself. More importantly, I |
| complete wrong doing to myself with no exceptions.I | | | | was able to correct the harm done to both my |
| also learned that admitting an error to yourself is not | | | | friend and his wife. I was able to make sure that |
| enough. You must make amends for the harm that | | | | there was honesty and integrity in our friendship.I |
| has been caused. In this case, I disrespected my | | | | would like to thank my friend for having the courage |
| friend by insulting his wife. My resolution was to | | | | and strength to be honest with me and to challenge |
| apologize to him and express my regrets for the | | | | me. I will do my best in the future to prevent these |
| comments that were made. I admitted that they | | | | types of incidents.Anthony B. is the founder and |
| were wrong and needless. I asked for his | | | | owner of a news, political and sports commentary |
| forgiveness.The final lesson that I learned was that I | | | | website. |