By Ben Spielberg
1. Five words: “Oops, I made a mistake.” Everybody makes mistakes; not everybody admits it. Be the bigger man. Admit your wrongdoings.
2. Don't just say “sorry.” One of my biggest pet peeves is when people constantly apologize for everything they do—especially if they don't actually change anything after they've apologized. If you are going to say “sorry,” don't do it again!
3. Don't make the same mistake again. Performing the same action repeatedly and expecting the same results is literally insanity. I think that line might even be in the commercial for “Insanity.” Once again, all human beings make mistakes. If you continue making mistakes, you need to do something differently. Don't do it again. Stop it. I said don't do it.
4. Do something nice for other people. I've heard that the world is in a constant balancing act between good and evil. If you can't do much, do what you can to make the world a better place. Give blood. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Donate $18 to Beit T'Shuvah because Ben Spielberg's Blog told you to.
5. Teach. Sometimes, there are things we can't apologize for. We hurt people. We burn bridges. That pain doesn't just go away on its own. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves is help other people not make the same mistakes we made. Talk to people. Offer advice. Share your experience with the world.
6. Live for t'shuvah. Redemption is unbalanced—one good action doesn't make up for one bad action. It's more exponential, and the best way to truly make the world a better place is to keep doing good things. Don't teach people once; teach them often. Say sorry when you make a mistake, and then don't make that mistake again. Donate $18 to Beit T'Shuvah on a monthly basis because Ben Spielberg's Blog told you to. Your soul will thank you.
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