Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
The Power of I Am Sorry: Mending Family Estrangement
I’m resurrecting this piece that I wrote several years ago about my long term estrangement from my parents. It’s the story about how 10 years of silence ended. It also was the first serious personal essay I wrote. It just goes to show that the most important thing about writing is to have something to say. And I had something I had been waiting a long time to say.
Every once in a while, especially around the holidays, I like to put this piece out there to remind people that if you think it’s too late to make things right, you’re wrong.
The title of the piece which appeared in Newsweek Magazine in September 2008 was The Power of ‘I Am Sorry’; the title’s been changed a bit to The Power of Saying You’re Sorry. I actually like that better.
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Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
A lesson for us all. Thanks.
Reblogged this on Red's Wrap and commented:
Family ruptures are a lot more common than you might think and they cause a lot of sadness. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. I know from experience.
Just read it. Really powerful story. I’m so glad you and your parents had time to put the grudge behind you.
Link doesn’t seem to work…
Just fixed it. Thanks for letting me know.
you’re welcome!
Love this. Love your writing. Thanks for sharing the piece.
Jenny
http://twinprints.wordpress.com
Thank you, Jenny. I want to cut out “Love your writing.” and put it up on my wall. Means a lot.