We live in a culture where “sorry” slips out of our mouths almost without thinking.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t answer sooner.”
“I’m sorry I asked for help.”
But what if we reframed it?
“Thank you for waiting for me.”
“Thank you for being patient.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
That small shift from apology to gratitude changes everything.
I’ll be honest, I used to apologize for everything. If someone bumped into me, I’d say sorry. If I needed a moment to collect myself, I’d say sorry. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t just apologizing for small inconveniences. I was apologizing for existing, for taking up space, for having needs.
Apologizing constantly is often a form of people pleasing. It’s a way of shrinking ourselves to keep the peace, to be “easy,” to avoid disappointing anyone. But it also chips away at our sense of worth.
Gratitude, on the other hand, reminds us we do have value. It honors both the other person and ourselves. When I say, “thank you for understanding,” instead of “sorry I’m such a mess,” I feel more grounded, more connected, more human.
📅 This Week’s Wellness Challenge
Catch yourself in one moment of automatic apology. Pause. Replace it with gratitude.
Instead of “sorry I’m late,” try “thank you for waiting.”
Instead of “sorry to bother you,” try “thank you for taking the time.”
Instead of “sorry I forgot,” try “thank you for reminding me.”
Notice how it feels in your body. Lighter? Kinder? Stronger?
🌱 Growing Through Gratitude
When we stop apologizing for existing and start expressing thanks, we begin to shift the story we tell ourselves: from “I’m a burden” to “I matter.” At Seeds2Succeed Wellness & Therapy, we believe this simple reframe is more than words. It’s a daily practice of valuing yourself, your time, and your worth. Plent the seeds to succeed; growth starts here.
