No fight can end, and no friendship can move on, until everyone says these little words: I’m sorry. Sometimes, though, they can be difficult to say, 76 .
It’s not about winning.
Friendships are not like the Super Bowl, and there should never be a winner and a loser. When you start fighting with a friend, it may feel important that you “win” the fight by proving you’re right and he is wrong, or by making him be the first to apologize.
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You may have heard the expression “His pride stood in the way.” It is usually used to describe a person who is so determined to be“right”that he lets an opportunity for happiness pass him by forever. 78 Remember: as time goes on, we usually forget who was right and who was wrong in a disagreement, and only remember the sadness of losing a friend.
Take the first step.
Are you sick of fighting? Do you think this fight is just not important enough to ruin your friendship? 79 You don’t have to take full responsibility for starting the fight, or even say that your feelings were wrong. But you should find something you did or said that’s worth apologizing for. Maybe you’re sorry that you let the fight go for so long, of that you overreacted(反应过度的) to something your friend did. If you say you are sorry, it’s like an invitation for your friend to do the same. 80
A. Then try to be the first to apologize.
B. Stop thinking about your pride.
C. It’s about taking some responsibility for the argument.
D. Don’t let this happen to a friendship you care about.
E. Here are some things to keep in mind.
F. Once you’ve both said it, you’ll both feel a million times better.