By Elle Ward
I’m really not one to big myself up.
So if I’m saying something positive about myself — believe me, it’s genuine.
One thing I’ve always prided myself on is this:
🖤 I own my mistakes.
I don’t try to sugarcoat them.
I don’t justify them.
If I apologise, it’s a full-stop — not a comma followed by excuses.
✋ An Apology Isn’t a Justification
What I’ve never understood is when someone says sorry… and then immediately explains why they did it.
That’s not an apology. That’s deflection.
That’s trying to soften your actions by sharing the blame — and it’s honestly something I can’t stand.
If you’re apologising, own it.
Don’t remind me of what I did.
Don’t shift the conversation.
We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you — and what you did.
🩶 I’m Not Perfect — And I Don’t Pretend To Be
I’ve hurt people. Really hurt them.
I’ve said and done things I’m not proud of.
But one thing I have always done is face it head-on.
Lately, I’ve taken accountability in an even deeper way — going back, making amends, and facing hard conversations because I needed to.
Because real change means not just moving forward, but looking back too.
And I’m not sharing this for praise.
I’m sharing it because I honestly believe we don’t talk enough about what real accountability looks like.
🤷 What Does Taking Responsibility Mean to You?
I’ve had a few conversations recently where people have admitted they’ve wronged me.
And in the very next sentence, they’ve reminded me of the ways I hurt them too.
And don’t get me wrong — I’m not above criticism. I can take it.
But not when it’s used to dodge their own reflection.
Sometimes we need to sit with the fact that we were wrong — full stop.
Not “I’m sorry, but you…”
Just “I’m sorry. That was on me.”
I’d really love to hear how other people feel about this.
What does accountability mean to you?
Do you think you can truly apologise if you still feel the need to explain yourself?
Let’s talk about it.
— What About Now
Leave a Reply