03/15/2026
Me and We worlds in collision
Consider the following sentence.
"I am sorry. It's my fault. I should have called ahead."
This statement contains at least three significant relationship and communication deficits.
Sorry, Fault, and Should.
1) Faults last a long time and provide no significant path forward.
2) Responsible does provide a path forward. Response-able.
3) "I Should" implies that there was a better choice in the past and a better outcome.
4) "I Could" indicates that there were alternative choices that Could have been made. Could provides Us a future of alternative choices.
5) "I am Sorry" is about the speaker and does not speak to the relationship nor to the influence of integrity lost.
6) At best, "I am sorry" can be understood as "I regret." "I am sorry" does not necessarily indicate a path forward.
7) "I apologize" acknowledges the damaged relationship, unfulfilled expectations, disappointment of the other, and the integrity cost to the damaged relationship.
"Sorry, Fault, and Should" all belong to world given by "I and Me."
There is no path forward for Us.
"I Apologize, am Responsible, and I Could" relate to world given by "We and Us."
These words do offer a path forward for Us.
In a "We and Us" world, when restated appropriately,
"I am late. I am responsible. I apologize. In the future I promise to call ahead as soon as I know I will be late."
In relationships and in marriage, I invite Us to speak in a "We and Us" given world.
Free to comment and freely share.
Paul Zohav M.Ed.