It comes when we say “I am sorry. Thank you! I will…”
Every morning, I can hear the broom sound of the neighbor across from my door while she cleans her yard and our alley. It is very kind of her, but I find she rarely smiles and her face seems serious that I don't feel I should start a conversation with her to say thanks as I normally would.
Her house and my house are both shaded by a big tree. Every morning when I go home from running, I jump rope in front of my house. That day, I was jumping and a motorbike came. I went ahead and jumped to reach my daily target before the bike arrived. The jump rope touched the leaf clusters of the old tree, so the leaves fell onto the road. I swept over to clean the leaves and went into the house to continue my exercise.
Half an hour later, I heard the familiar broom of my neighbor sweeping the street. And accompanied by the sound of brooms was a grumbling sound…I couldn't hear anything clearly, but my heart rose – was it because I dropped a leaf in front of my house while jumping rope…
I heard my own voice trying to explain “but I did sweep…” – I tried to comfort myself that his nagging wasn't about the leaves. However, deep in my heart, I knew that was the cause…I told myself – no need to think about it, go on with your morning work and forget about it. But there was still a certain uncomfortable feeling.
I decided to go see the neighbor. Walking downstairs, not knowing how to start, but I knew if I let it go, I wouldn't be comfortable.
Approaching the door of the neighbor's house, I saw that she was talking with some other friends.
"I'm sorry, I jumped rope in the morning and dropped the leaves, I didn't clean it well, thanks for your help. I'll be more careful," I confided.
"Ah, that's it, I just said that whoever dropped the leaves didn't sweep it well, i thought about you - the little girl often does exercise... pay attention next time little girl, thank you...", the neighbor smiled wittily, welcoming accept my apologies and thanks.
I felt relieved, and I felt the warm from her heart rather than the coldness that I found before…
So every time I see her, we smile and greet each other…She often lends me a bicycle pump when I need it…
I have a friendly neighbor…the door opens to that friendliness has a lot to do with the words“…I'm sorry…thank you…I will…”
Apologies and thanks are gifts we can give to anyone, every day…
