
Everything You Need To Know About This Month's Mercury Retrograde In Aries

Explore your sign’s 2024 horoscope predictions to learn what is in store for you this year in love, career, and more. Check out the love compatibility of each sign to learn more about zodiac pairings and all things compatibility.
Another Mercury retrograde has arrived, and this one is heating things up. On March 9, Mercury entered Aries and directed our minds toward our passions, our progress, and our personal desires. On April 1, Mercury goes retrograde in this fire sign and will be in retrograde motion until April 25. Mercury retrograde in Aries is bold, but the energy can often be misdirected.
What April's Mercury Retrograde in Aries Has in Store for Your Sign
Extra precaution is needed when it comes to what you are taking initiative on right now and where you may need to put some goals on the back burner for the time being. This is not the time to overexert yourself; rather, this Mercury retro is reminding us that true power comes from self-trust.
Let’s get to the basics of what to do during a Mercury retrograde, and what not to do during a Mercury retrograde.
Do:
- Gain some renewed inspiration. Mercury retrogrades can be a really insightful and inspiring time if you are tapping into that creative energy that is brewing.
- Exercise. This Mercury retrograde is happening in Aries, so do like the Aries do when things feel chaotic and get your body moving.
- Communicate with confidence and speak on how you are feeling to prevent any miscommunications.
- Meditate. We need a little more of this calming energy right now.
Don’t:
- Sign any important contracts or deals if you can.
- Travel. If you have to, make sure you plan everything thoroughly and re-check everything before you leave.
- Be impulsive. Impulsion can lead to making irrational decisions right now.
- Take things personally. It’s Mercury retro. Let’s give yourself and everyone else some extra grace during this time.
This Mercury retrograde in Aries is a reality check. It’s here to awaken where your heart has been leading you, and where you may need to rethink some plans and goals. With two eclipses happening during this Mercury retrograde, a lot is happening right now, and things can get chaotic if you are not centering yourself, focusing on your goals and intentions, and finding the gifts in the present moment.
Mercury in Aries is always a few steps ahead, but in retrograde motion, we may need to feel things out a little more before taking those steps.
Read below to see how this Mercury retrograde transit will be affecting you. Read for your sun sign and rising sign.
Read your April Mercury retrograde horoscope predictions:
ARIES
This Aries Season is one for the books for you, Aries. Not only is the Sun in your sign, but there is a Solar Eclipse in your sign, as well as Mercury retrograde. When Mercury retrograde is in your own sign, you always feel it a little more than the other signs, and right now, you need some time to get grounded and plan your next steps. Your personal and professional goals are being looked at right now, and you are figuring out where you can experience a new beginning financially and personally.
This Mercury retrograde is reminding you of the work you have already done and continue to do, and that it’s not the time to count yourself out yet. New developments are taking place for you, but right now you are making sure all your ducks are in a row first.
TAURUS
You are walking away from an old way of doing things right now, Taurus. This Mercury retrograde for you is about putting your heart first and taking your emotional well-being as the highest priority in your life. With this Mercury retrograde happening in your 12th house of closure, you are seeking just that right now. The past may be coming up for you more during this transit, so just remember that oftentimes this happens for a chance at healing, rather than to let someone back into your life.
This isn’t the time to entertain the past or see things better than they were, but it is a time of reflection and learning the lessons. What’s being brought up for you now is doing so so that you can release, replenish, and renew. Get some time away during this Mercury retrograde, and allow yourself the space to process and heal.
GEMINI
This Mercury retrograde is bringing clarity and emotional nourishment into your life, Gemini. You are taking a look at the big picture right now and finding your way through the love that you are ready to embrace in your life. Friendships, support systems, and your community are all highlighted, and you are overcoming feeling misunderstood or separated from those spaces you want to be immersed in more. There could be some miscommunication within friendships and social networks right now as you think about who your people are, and where you are feeling supported within your friendships and community.
Past goals, future goals, and the progress of them all come up for review for you during this time. Communicate from the heart, nourish the connections and friendships that feel good for you, and give yourself a break from always having to say the right thing or be the person you think others want you to be. This Mercury retrograde is helping you align with your freedom.
CANCER
This Mercury retrograde is helping you tap into your inner muse, Cancer. Your emotions are highlighted right now, but so are your goals and the life you want to lead. Your career and professional goals may feel a little more confusing or chaotic for you now as more pressure is being added to this area of your life. Your guidance for this time is to get creative with what you can do here and to trust that you have it in your heart to build new connections and embrace new opportunities in your professional world.
This is a good time to gain clarity and plan out some of the new goals you want to achieve this year, but to also look back on the past work done and pat yourself on the back for all that you have already achieved and accomplished in life. Be your biggest cheerleader right now and don’t wait for anyone to give you approval first.
LEO
This Mercury retrograde is reminding you to not get too ahead of things before you have truly grasped the implication of them, Leo. There is a lot to confront and deal with during this retrograde transit, and an open mind is needed to navigate this time. With this Mercury retrograde happening in your 9th house of expansion and travel, some extra precaution should be taken if you have any travel plans during this time, and know that detours may be necessary.
Overall, it’s about the perspectives you are choosing and which ones you are letting go of right now. Your peace of mind and clarity of heart are the priority, and it’s a good time to be out in nature, get some space from the busyness of life, and trust that you are being led to where you need to be.
VIRGO
Life is coming together for you in a new way right now, Virgo. This Mercury retrograde will be happening in your 8th house of commitments, shared finances, resources, and rebirth. You are moving through a time of change, but are overall able to see where the success is and can be in your life, and how to move closer to that. This is the time to find the balance between giving and receiving and to put some extra care and attention towards your finances and commitments.
How you are feeling within holds great importance to what you are experiencing outside of you, and you are bridging that gap right now and claiming your abundance in the process. Life is coming full circle for you during this Mercury retrograde, and you are finding out what success and connection truly mean for you today.
LIBRA
Value your time, value your energy, and value your heart, Libra. With this Mercury retrograde happening in the sign opposite of yours, your love life is being highlighted during this time. It can feel a little more difficult to maintain your balance in your close relationships during this retrograde, and misunderstandings here are more likely. Give yourself and others the space to figure things out and allow more love to fill in those spaces where pain has been.
Things may be turning out differently than expected, but they are overall leading you to more nourishing and safe spaces in love and your one-on-one partnerships. This Mercury retrograde for you overall is a reminder that you deserve to receive the love you give, and letting go of codependency habits or relationships will help you get there.
SCORPIO
This Mercury retrograde is a time for you to plan, rethink, and re-coordinate your next steps, Scorpio. Timing is of the essence, but you may need some more of it before you have the full picture needed to see your previous plans through. Know that divine intervention is at play right now, and this is a good time to focus on taking care of your health, creating a good daily routine, and moving away from doing things just to do them.
The answers you are looking for may need some more time to come through right now, and by listening to your body you can better connect to the lessons of it all. By the time this Mercury retrograde is over and Mercury is direct again, you are going to have a better idea of what gifts are being offered to you, and why you needed a pause or a break before you were able to receive them.
SAGITTARIUS
It’s time to focus on your perspective, the beauty in your life, and where your heart has been needing to heal, Sagittarius. This Mercury retrograde for you is an eye-opening time for your relationships, hobbies, passions, and self-expression; and a time when you may feel the need to hold onto things tighter when you need to let go more. Know that decisions made from the heart will feel good for you when you make them, and fear-based decisions are going to feel more restrictive and heavy.
Weigh out all options and possible paths, and choose from the heart rather than what you fear you may lose. Overall, you are getting a new perspective on what your heart needs and on what is going to make you truly happy in life right now. This Mercury retrograde is helping you make better decisions for yourself and your future.
CAPRICORN
You are gaining some clarity on the support systems in your life, and where you can feel more secure here, Capricorn. This Mercury retrograde will be moving through your 4th house of home, family, foundations, and emotional well-being, and it’s helping you create a new beginning here. You may be feeling more pressure in the home or your time and energy may be needed more from your loved ones, and you are being guided to only take on the things you can truly emotionally handle right now.
This is a good time to spend more time around the people who make you feel more nourished rather than emotionally drained and to recognize the need for more companionship in your life. This Mercury retrograde may emotionally rock the boat for you a little, but overall, you are aligning with the work that needs to be done and who you want by your side through it all.
AQUARIUS
Honor your strength, be patient with yourself, and communicate your needs, Aquarius. During this Mercury retrograde, you can feel more confused about where things are and where they are headed, and you need some time to gain some inner clarity. Perspectives are changing, and people around you are changing, but it’s up to you to define who you are, what you stand for, and what you want to speak about.
Communication channels may feel more heavy for you right now and it’s important to let go of the things that don’t benefit your mental health. Take a social media detox, read a good book, journal your thoughts when you are feeling lost, meditate when you need to feel more grounded, and trust that this too shall pass, Aquarius. Your strength is needed during this time.
PISCES
This Mercury retrograde is bringing things to fruition and giving you clarity on your personal finances, Pisces. How you value your time, energy, and skill set are being highlighted now, and you are being reminded that your worth is based upon what you place on it. When you can celebrate yourself more and see yourself as the successful and worthy being you are, you show people how they should treat you, and you align with that source of abundance.
You are building a new experience for yourself financially right now, and this Mercury retrograde is clearing away what’s been in the way of that. Connect with people who love and support you when you are feeling low or incapable, and remember that you are so much more loved and supported than you know. This Mercury retrograde for you is the next step towards greater financial freedom.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Tassii/Getty Images
Tayler Barakat is a Mystic who has studied Astrology for over a decade. She does intuitive astrology and tarot readings for people all over the world, and her work focuses on healing and empowering individuals. Follow her on Instagram @taylerbarakat_ and check out her website www.listentothevirgo.com.
Love Is The Muse: How Skylar And Temi Built A Creative Life Together
When Temitope Ibisanmi DM’d the word “muse” to Skylar Marshai, he knew he was shooting his romantic shot. He didn’t realize, however, that he was connecting with his future business and creative partner, too.
“I was the boyfriend,” Temi says. “Everybody out there knows, you’re the cameraman at that point.”
Skylar sees things differently. At the time, she was shooting content on her iPhone. Temi came into the picture with a new perspective, an understanding of tech, and, eventually, a camera. “He doesn't give himself enough credit,” Skylar says. “He wasn't just my tripod. He wasn't just standing behind the camera and going ‘click.’ He was giving advice. He was giving me insight to how I could look at things from a different perspective. And I was like, 'Oh, he’s an artist.' I think it was maybe a heartbeat of that kind of energy of like, ‘Baby, can you take this picture?’ And it turned so quickly into, we're partners. We can work together in a way where we're advancing each other's creative thinking.”
The pair often says they’re two sides of the same coin. Skylar is an Aquarius. She attended art school, paints, and loves poetry. She’s more than happy to let the couple’s management firm and agency, Kensington Grey, handle their admin work. And, she loves to sleep in. Temi, on the other hand, wakes up early. He’s a Virgo. He loves a to-do list and regularly checks in on the couple’s brand partnerships spreadsheet to make sure everything is on track.
Because his storytelling was steeped in his love of technology, he didn’t always think of himself as a creative person. “Where I [am] the dreamer who wants to pluck things out of the sky and spend all day with my head in the clouds, Temi [is] so good at grounding me and helping me figure out how to make things make sense on paper. We just work together in such a complimentary way,” Skylar says.
It’s been more than six years since Brooklyn-based couple Temi and Skylar started dating, and nearly four since they cemented their working relationship. On TikTok and Instagram, the couple’s travel, fashion, and home content regularly rack up hundreds of thousands of views. They’ve worked with brands such as Coach, Aesop, Away, and Liquid IV, bringing their vibrant perspectives to every campaign they execute. Still, nearly two years since both Temi and Skylar committed to full-time content creation and creative directing, the couple says their romantic connection remains their priority.
“We told each other we would much rather go back to full-time jobs and preserve our relationship than to be full-time freelancers, barely getting a night's rest [and] barely kissing each other because we're so busy shooting,” Skylar says.
Working from home can make it hard to separate work from personal life for any entrepreneur. It can be even more challenging when your business partner is also your lover. Temi and Skylar had already used couples therapy as a tool to help them effectively communicate with one another. When they ran into challenges while working together, their therapist helped them set physical boundaries to help combat the issues.
"We told each other we would much rather go back to full-time jobs and preserve our relationship than to be full-time freelancers, barely getting a night's rest [and] barely kissing each other because we're so busy shooting."
“It actually took us doing very specific physical things to create boundaries between work and play in our relationship,” Skylar says. “So, for instance, we will only have conversations about work when we're out of bed or we're at the table or in the office. Initially, when we started, we had to light a candle to say that, 'Okay, this is a space where we're connecting, we’re not talking about work.' We needed really hard boundaries at the top. And then it became a little bit more organic.”
The boundaries have been crucial to implement, especially because the couple began working together so naturally. When the pair first met, Skylar was NY-based a social strategist for BuzzFeed and was using content creation to drive business to her lingerie company. She was shooting her own content. Temi was working for Microsoft in D.C. He’d recently traded in his DJing equipment for a camera. “I've always loved taking pictures,” he says. “Even when I was a kid, my African mother would wake me up at 3:00 a.m. [during a] party, and be like, 'Come take the family picture.'”
Growing up, Temi says he watched his parents support each other and be the true definition of partners. He knew he wanted the same for his own relationship. But, the couple also wanted to make sure they were being financially responsible. The pair didn’t quit their traditional jobs until they’d saved up two years' worth of their cost of living. And, Temi received his Master of Business Administration from New York University with the knowledge that it could either help him advance in his corporate career or be applicable to his business with Skylar.
Today, they say their working relationship is more of a “quiet dance.” They still implement some of the boundaries they learned in therapy, but they also lean into their natural strengths and deep love for one another. When we speak, Temi has planned a date for the couple to see Princess Mononoke in 4K IMAX and added it to their Notion so they can factor it into their busy schedules. “I fully plan to date for the rest of my life,” he says.
Skylar says the couple doesn’t just wait for date nights to check in with one another, though. This often happens in the mornings, after Temi has made her peppermint tea and poured himself a cup of coffee. When they ask each other how they slept, she says, it’s not just a “nicety.” It’s a genuine question meant to foster connection.
“A lot of it happens during the day in the midst of work. We'll stop and we'll hug. Or we’ll slow dance in the kitchen,” she says. “Sometimes it's hard to set a whole date night when you have 7,000 things going on. So, we must grasp these moments and check in when we can. And I think it's become so organic to us that I actually didn't even realize how often we do it. But all day long, we're like, 'Are you good? I felt like your energy shifted,' because we're best friends, we just know. We just feel it happen.”
What’s better than being in love? Building wealth while doing it. Watch Making Cents here for real stories of couples who make money moves together.
Featured image by Cj Hart @hartbreak
We All Mess Up Sometimes. But Can You Trust A Friend's Apology?
Although what I mostly deal with when it comes to the clients that I have is romantic relationships, there are definitely times when other topics come up. For instance, recently, someone was talking to me about some drama that they were going through with a friend of theirs. Emotionally, they felt like they were in a bit of a bind because while, on one hand, they had been friends with this individual for over 15 years at this point, on the other, there were certain things that they had done, more than once, that were starting to take its toll.
When I asked my client if they had clearly articulated their feelings, concerns, and boundaries to that individual, they admitted that they hadn’t.
From their perspective, their friend should simply know what they should and shouldn’t do. Yeah, one day, I’m going to write an article about how a lot of relationships could be spared so much drama if we all stopped automatically expecting others to think, act, and even love like we do. Anyway, my client did pause for a moment; then she shared that there was one thing, in particular, that she had told her friend that she didn’t appreciate and her friend just kept on doing it — so much to the point where it was starting to feel not only intentional but disrespectful too. In response to that, here’s how the rest of the dialogue between us went down:
Me: “Did she apologize?”
Her: “I mean, after I about lost it and told her that I was sick of her sh-t, she did. I don’t know if I can trust it, though.”
Me: “Has the action happened again since?”
Her: “The last time was only a few weeks ago. It’s too soon to tell. I know I’m starting to put distance between us, though. I’m not sure if I want to be friends with her anymore at this point.”
*le sigh* What to do, what to freakin’ do, when you’ve got a friend in your life who does something that bothers, offends, hurts, or harms you (because those are all different things, y’all), they apologize and you’re not exactly sure what to do with their apology. That is something that I’m pretty sure that all of us have gone through, probably more than once. If you definitely have, and there have been times when it’s left you feeling stumped, let’s unpack it all a bit — just so you’ll know how to move, with complete peace of mind, for the sake of your friendship and, most importantly, your peace of mind.
People with Regrets Apologize (and Every Self-Aware Human Should Have Regrets)
Sometime last year, I was talking to a friend of mine about his spouse. As he was raving about all of the things that he adores about her, something that he said caused my eyes to get semi-big: “I mean, she doesn’t believe in apologizing which can get on my nerves but that’s about it.” Whew, chile. Also, another article for another time: It’s very hard for a marriage to function, in a healthy way, if both people aren’t willing to apologize and forgive because there are going to be countless times when doing one or the other is going to be extremely necessary. Why?
Because we all make mistakes and sometimes poor decisions (and no, those two things aren’t the same either) must be corrected with an apology. Not only that but we all also experience times when someone needs to apologize to us and, because of the first thing that I said, we should forgive them and LET. IT. GO.
Yeah, those “I don’t apologize” people? Talk about folks who I don’t trust because that typically either means that they have way too much pride going on or they suck and taking personal accountability for their actions — and neither of those things makes it easy when it comes to trying to have a solid relationship with someone else. Honestly, the only kind of folks who “cause me to pause” more are the ones who claim that they don’t have any regrets in life. Truly…what in the world are you talking about?
If you’ve been rocking with me on this platform for a while now, you already know that I totally and completely loathe the saying, “I don’t regret anything” (check out “Why Regret Might Not Always Be A Bad Thing”). SMDH. Some statements, I just think that they have been popular for so long that people repeat them without really thinking about what they actually mean.
When it comes to regret, if you look up its definition, you should see the word “remorse” somewhere in there and remorse means “deep and painful regret for wrongdoing; compunction” — and if you NEVER feel this way, that low-key sounds like either you think that you never do anything wrong (which is a completely delusional mindset) or you don’t care to “right your wrongs” whenever you do them (which makes you a pretty unsafe individual to be around).
And why am I laying down all of this foundation? Because, before getting into how to discern someone’s apology, it’s important to first surround yourself with individuals who even get that they should apologize from time to time in the first place — not because you think so but because they think so. I’m telling you, it can spare you a ton of time and potential heartbreak to follow this tip.
I say that because I ended a relationship about six years ago, mostly because the person reached out to me to help them out with something, and when I wrote out a full email about something they did that was highly offensive and would result in my not obliging them — not only did they not apologize, they didn’t even acknowledge what I said. What kind of makes it “comically worse” (utter audacity-wise) is the few times that I’ve seen them since, they’ve acted like nothing even happened. Then I had to think back to other times when I’ve brought hurt feelings or offenses to their attention and how they would deflect, play the victim, or change the subject (bookmark that).
Hmph. We talk about narcissism a lot both on and offline — uh-huh, be careful about those narcissistic friends out here. They always want to be the center of attention. They constantly put their own needs first. They have a hard time forgiving and yet think that you should dismiss whatever they do that’s wrong (or damaging). I could go on and on about those jokers. For now, I’ll just bring this point to a close by saying that if you want to trust someone’s apology, you need to trust that they care enough to apologize in the first place. And lawd, won’t that preach?
Next point.
Karma Is Attached to Apologies
One day, I’m also going to write an article about how much forgiveness tends to be weaponized — and how absolutely insane that is. Meaning, so many people think that they deserve an apology for all of the things that they do while others don’t — and that’s not really how forgiveness works. If you’re looking at it from a Scriptural standpoint, the Good Book tells us that if you want to be right with God, you’ve got to forgive other people (Matthew 6:14-15). Science says that if you want to be healthy, it’s wise to forgive as well. Adding to both of these things, since karma (which is basically just reaping what you sow) doesn’t discriminate, if you want to be forgiven in the future, you should forgive others in the present.
And that’s what I mean when I say that karma is attached to apologies. When it comes to some completely bold and If-I-were-a-different-type-of-person-things-would’ve-gone-very-differently things that have happened to me throughout the years — what has kept things peaceful and put me on a faster track to healing is choosing to forgive others; especially when they make a point to apologize (check out “How I Learned To Forgive People In My Life Who Weren't Sorry”).
Honestly, a part of the reason why I can do closure so well is because I can accept an apology. What I mean by that is I think a lot of times, we stay in “hamster wheel relationships” (same problems, no new solutions) or we’re so super devastated (because we’re not just sad, we also beat ourselves up with guilt and yes, regret) if something should happen to someone who we used to be in relationship with and it’s partly because we don’t accept apologies.
Me? I never want to be so high and mighty in my mindset that I think I can gamble my relationship with God or my health simply because I want someone to think that what they do and ask forgiveness doesn’t deserve mercy while I’m somewhere thinking that I should be pardoned for all of my mess. I don’t know about y’all but I need God’s forgiveness, plus, it feels good — cleansing even — whenever people who I’ve hurt or harmed have forgiven me and so I give forgiveness in order to receive it — because every single human needs to receive it.
Next point.
A Sincere Apology Doesn't Deflect, Justify or Play the Victim. It Takes Full Ownership.
Now that we’ve talked about why you should only befriend people who forgive and apologize and how you shouldn’t be in relationships if you don’t know how to forgive (and apologize) — let’s talk about what a sincere apology should even look like.
Years ago, I had a friend who violated a very clear boundary of mine. She kept trying to push something on me that I didn’t want to do until one day, she did it anyway. And boy, was I pissed. When she saw how angry I was, she called me crying and, although she did say that she was sorry, she also went into all kinds of reasons why she thought that she was the bigger victim. The more that I listened, it was like she wanted me to apologize to her for violating me (whew, chile). Yeah, don’t trust those kinds of apologies because they are chocked full of manipulation.
And this is where we start to tiptoe into the difference between accepting an apology and trusting one.
Since she literally said, “I’m so sorry,” I accepted her apology because, although I think that my discernment is pretty keen and she was trying to manipulate matters, at the end of the day, who am I to brush off her efforts to acknowledge what she did? Did I trust her apology, though? Absolutely not because to trust something, you’ve gotta be confident in it, and anyone who decides to make what they did to you totally about them? They don’t really get what an apology is all about.
Hmph. I grew up with people who would apologize and also deflect (shift blame, gaslight, go into semi-denial mode), justify poor behavior (make excuses, follow their apology with some long ass story) and/or play the victim (act like they are more hurt than you are) in the midst of their apologies and those types of individuals typically only apologize in order to “move on” from what they’ve done — not to really make sure that you are okay about what had transpired.
And those people? Whether they are too selfish, not self-aware enough or they’re simply ignorant about what a sincere apology looks like, if those three factors come into play, their apology can be accepted yet not really trusted in the sense of you believing that they will do their best to not repeat the action again. How could you TRUST it if they don’t fully OWN it? Make sense?
Next point.
Accepting Apologies and Actually Trusting Them Are Quite Different
If you know that someday, you will need to apologize to someone, you will get again why I say that none of us should really refuse someone else’s apology. Another way of looking at this is if someone apologizes and you don’t accept it, it’s basically saying, “I don’t acknowledge that you acknowledge what you did that you are trying to take responsibility for” — and honestly, what kind of sense does that make?
Because while you are thinking that not accepting their apology is harming them, it’s really only hurting you because you are choosing to hold onto what their apology has actually released them from. Plus, y’all know that I am pretty word-literal and, at the end of the day, accepting an apology simply means that 1) you are responding to what they are saying and 2) you are receiving the effort. Over and out.
Now TRUSTING an apology? Again, that is something entirely different. I’ll give you another example. Everyone who knows me (check out “5 Signs You Really Know A Person”) knows that if I come out to a big function, that’s love — DEEP LOVE. Back when I was an entertainment journalist, I had my fill of stuff like that; these days, low-key is how I get down. Anyway, one time, a friend invited me out to a crowded and pretty important function. After a bit of convincing, I made the personal request of not wanting to go along with someone else in their world who I am not fond of (who they are now not even friends with because they discovered on their own just how shady the person can be).
My friend assured me that it wouldn’t be an issue — only for me to get to the place where we were meeting up and my friend then telling me on the way to the venue that the person would be joining us. When I tell you that we literally had the conversation about that not happening just a few hours before? Chile. My response? I left before we headed there and went back home. I am BIG on my boundaries being respected and I’m not going to be set up to be put in a position to somehow be the bad guy if I’m not kee-keeing with someone who I didn’t want to be around, intimately, in the first place. Plus, my friend needed to fully enjoy her night without worrying about what the energy was going to be like.
My friend owned that it was “bad business” to even move like that — that it was thoughtless and a bit manipulative on her part because a part of her thought that if I was pushed to the wall on the matter, I would just get over it. She apologized. I accepted it. However, I didn’t just accept it, I trusted it because, a few weeks later, she invited me to another event, out of state, all expenses paid.
Listen, if you know me, you know that it wasn’t the free trip that “moved me” because my favorite place is always gonna be at home. LOL. It’s that my friend didn’t just acknowledge what she did, she also took it upon herself to make amends — and that’s what a real apology should always include.
And what is amends? It’s “reparation or compensation for a loss, damage, or injury of any kind; recompense.” That said, when we really get the weight and magnitude of something that we’ve done to another person, it’s never enough to just toss a flippant “My bad” in their direction — it’s important to put forth the effort to set things right.
I got that my friend understood how much effort it took for me to do the initial outing with her in the first place because she took a few steps up from that and turned another event into a girls' trip — just us. That was a couple of years ago now. We’ve not had an issue in that lane since.
Your friend who hurt you and apologized? One way to know if you can trust the apology to the point where you know that it’s okay to move on fully from the matter is if they are willing, on their own, to make amends. If, in their own way, they ask you, “How can I make this right?” If you get that from them, I really recommend that you give them a chance because not only does it seem like their apology is heartfelt, but they also want to help you to heal from what they did — and at the end of the day, because none of us can change the past, just “own” our part in it, there’s not much more that a human can do.
Plus, people who go so far as to make amends, they typically also put forth the effort to try and change their behavior (or not repeat the action). And again, what more can you really ask for from any fallible individual (and we are all that)…right?
____
No one is perfect. We’re all going to mess up. If you really get that, when a friend apologizes to you, let both of yourselves off of the hook and accept it. And during the apology, if they take full ownership which includes making amends, trust your friend enough to have faith that they will try to not hurt you, in that way, again.
Accept is about recognizing.
Trusting is about putting your confidence in something.
When it comes to apologies, specifically, I hope it’s easier to now know the difference.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image Pheelings Media/Getty Images