Thank You. Sorry.

Two words that I feel are widely misused today:

1) Thank You.

2) Sorry.

Why do I say this? Because I think they've become cheap get-aways from actually taking responsibility for oneself and how one relates with others.

Someone does something good for you: Saying "Thank You" *does not* balance out the equation. Your gratitude needs to actually show in how you relate with that someone. More importantly, when he / she needs *you* to do something for them: you should be doing it.

That's gratitude.

Not: Thank You. Now, are we done? Or here: Let me give you a Thank You Card. Now we are really done.

You mess up: Saying "Sorry" *does not* give you an escape route. You have to stop and see if you can mend the hurt / damage you've caused. You have to be able to stand there and accept not only your mistake, but why you made that mistake. And you have to be committed to never repeating the mistake again.

Are you getting what I'm saying? Gratitude and repentance are not reducible to just saying a word and feeling that you've actually done something to keep nature in balance.