When I was younger, I began adding rules to my life. It seemed weird to others but was meant as protection for myself. Five rules that I live by are:

1. Give people a second chance but don’t give people multiple chances to f up your life.

2. Raise your children based on the child, not you. Every child isn’t the same.

3. Apologize when wrong and stop apologizing if you are a habitual line crosser. Learn how to stop crossing the line.

4. Stop accepting apologies for the same offense. They don’t understand why they are apologizing.

5. If it’s not your story to tell, don’t tell it.

Number 4 is the part that most people I know or have been acquainted with don’t seem to get. And I understand why. We are taught to apologize for any wrongdoing we may have inflicted on ourselves or others. We are taught to make amends for the wrong and practice not to commit the same offense again. I learned this as a child and as a result, I am more prone to offer a solution along with an appropriate apology when I have wronged someone. I feel having a solution handy and the will power to make good on your word is more powerful than the apology by itself.

People offend people. That’s the way it has been. People find solutions to problems created from the reason for the apology (sometimes). It would be nice for both to coincide with one another.