In a quiet moment, thoughts flitted through my mind and I’d been thinking about saying sorry, showing remorse for our harshest actions. It brought to mind a quote from the 1970 film Love Story – ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry.’

When I first saw this movie many moons ago that line gave me that choking up moment and it seemed touching, a great sentiment to express in a romantic film.

Years later, I disagree with the statement. Love is all about being able to say you’re sorry. If we can’t apologise to our loved ones, what does it mean – that we’re not remorseful for our cruellest actions or words. People struggle to apologise to their enemies, those they hate. They might say the words, but they’re not genuine or sincere and it can lead to feuds and constant discord. We’re conditioned to apologise from childhood, to say we’re sorry, but how often do we actually mean it?

If you apologise to a loved one, you are showing sincerity and honesty.  In response you expect no retaliation or retribution. Lovers don’t lash out in anger, storm off or say spiteful things, they acknowledge the apology and forgive.  Saying sorry strengthens a relationship, not weakens it.

If only we could extend our heartfelt apologies to those we might despise or hate and in return, we’d been forgiven without retribution. How do you begin to build those bridges?