Billy returned home from Cubs and announced he wasn't ever going back. "Why not?" asked his mom.

"I used a whole roll of tape on my Halloween project tonight. I didn't know it was the only roll for all of us. Akela said I sure messed things up. When I told him I thought it was a dumb project anyway, he got upset."

We've all been there I'm sure. The situation now is one of face-saving isn't it? And just because a Cub's head is smaller doesn't make it any easier to save face does it?

So mom calls Akela, who, if he's wise, says, "The project wasn't half as dumb as the dumb way I explained it. The other leaders worked hard putting everything together and I just rushed things in explaining it. I owe everyone, especially Billy, an apology. I'd like to say, 'I'm sorry' to him right now and I'll apologize to the Pack next meeting."

What a great "Good Turn" ... not an easy one but a critically important one.

Why do so many of us find it so hard to say, "I'm sorry"? Probably our PRIDE! An "I'm sorry" that comes from the heart can melt hostility like nothing else. In saying "I'm sorry" we're giving something up ... probably it's something well worth giving up ... like stubbornness, self-interest or pride. It's not easy, especially when we think we're mostly right. We find it hard to back down ... we think it'll be seen as a sign of weakness and we don't like that. Instead, more often than not it is seen as a true sign of strength and greatly increases respect for and trust in us. Saying "I'm sorry" can be one of our most important "Good Turns".

In our hearts we all know this is true ... after all, we are the Good Turn people aren't we?

P. S.  An "I'm sorry" is generally Better Late Than Never!