Today is Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday where we ask for forgiveness for the wrongs we have committed over the past year. Due to various circumstances, this year prompted me to do some genuine soul searching into how those things have caused me to act in ways that may require apologies. I talk to my kids about the importance of saying “sorry” a lot these days. Both for their benefit and mine. I don’t want them to overuse the word and, in turn, have apologies lose their value, but I also want them to learn to take responsibility for any pain they may have caused others. I try to model that by taking responsibility for my own mistakes and missteps, of which there have been many. I don’t always do the best job. Let’s be honest, saying “I’m sorry” is easy. Meaning it is the important part. Saying “I’m sorry” is not enough. An apology doesn’t mean much if we continue to make the same choices and commit the same wrongs regardless of the pain we inevitably cause. This Yom Kippur, I hope we can all be brave enough to search our hearts and souls and make a choice to do better, be more loving, and make changes where changes need to be made. Making amends to those we have wronged - not just saying “sorry”, but truly asking for forgiveness and becoming a better human - is the real work. See yourself as the slate and wipe it clean. G'mar tov and Tzom kal. 🪬