WS Chronicle

By Cindy Argiento

Sometimes the lessons learned in life are more important than lessons learned in school. I learned about love not from a book, but by my parent’s example.

 I’m sorry – two simple words, two words that can heal a broken heart, two words that can mend a relationship. Unless you’re conscience-free, at some point in your life you’ll apologize to someone for something. 

It seems there are certain people in society, like athletes and politicians, who apologize only after they’re caught in a scandal, which makes you wonder if they’re sorry for what they did or sorry they got caught.

When my husband and I fight, he expects a full, sincere apology where I kneel before him and proclaim, loudly, “I was wrong. You were right. I’m sorry.” After over 25 years of marriage, the man feels it’s high time he was right about something. I’m sincerely sorry he feels this way.

Growing up, like most kids, I witnessed some of my parent’s arguments. Looking back, I can’t recall what they fought about, but I can recall clearly how they made up.

When one of them was ready to call a truce and make up, they would turn on the stereo (a medieval musical apparatus) and play their song, ‘I Can’t Stop Loving you,’ by Ray Charles. This song said, “I’m sorry. I still love you.”

Looking back I realize I was lucky to have a front row seat to the all important life lesson on how to make a marriage work. From this lesson I learned married people fight. I learned it doesn’t matter who says “I’m sorry” first, so long as someone say it.

I learned every marriage has its ups and downs and a fight does not mean divorce is eminent. I now realize I was lucky to be a spectator to the fights and most of all to the resolutions as, unfortunately, too many children witness the fights and never the resolutions.

Having a ringside seat to such events forms a foundation from which a child takes their cue from their role models on what it takes to be a grown-up.

A child lives what they learn and at the core of every lesson is the parent, and if you’re lucky, two parents, who deeply love each other; parents who teach you that sometimes ‘I’m sorry’ is said in song.

Cindy Argiento is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to For Seniors Only. She is a public speaker for her book “Deal With Life’s Stress With ‘A Little Humor.’“ Contact Cindy at cargiento@aol.com or visit www.cindyargiento.com.