Offenses will happen, and while I don't go out of my way to offend anyone I suspect that some are offended by me (i.e. my words, actions, face, voice, etc.). It would be pretty droll to expect that any of us make it out of this life experience without being at least "rubbed the wrong way" by someone. It would probably also be beneficial to remember that every one of us is that sort of irritant to someone else.
To that extent, if I've done or said anything that offends you then I'm sorry you feel that way but since I'm never aiming to be offensive, I'm not sorry for anything I've done. I can only hope that we know each other well enough that we understand intentions. What I say and/or do, and the meaning you infer from it don't always match up the way I intended. We all live the way we believe to be the right way for us to live, and obviously that differs from person to person.
There's something you should know about me (if you don't already). I typically try to play peacemaker (usually failing miserably) while playing the role of Switzerland. I don't dig a lot of conflict so (depending on the person, or groups of people) sometimes that translates to I'm taking sides (i.e., if you're not with us, you're against us). This has caused rifts that may or may not be repairable. I don't claim to be completely innocent in all of this but I can say with full conviction that I am trying.
To illustrate, I recently got some disheartening news. The interview I had didn't go as well as I thought and I didn't get the job. My lowlier-than-usual state may have come across in some correspondence, and that may have influenced my tone and therefore, inferences.
To those who may feel slighted by anything I did or said (and I know there are several of you out there): You should all know me well enough by now to know my intentions. While the road to hell is paved with good ones, let's focus on whatever the road back is paved with. I refuse to burn bridges to be in better favor with anyone. Relationships are all we really have in this life, and I value the ones I have with all of you. Whether or not you feel the same way about me is entirely up to you.
If it isn't at least implied here, I offer my apologies to any who may have misread anything I've said or done to mean that I don't value our friendship. Nothing could be further from the truth but just remember that I usually just want to be Switzerland.
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