摘要：
Foreword:Therearemomentsinlifethatchangeus,momentsthatalterourcourse,andmomentsthatmak... Foreword:
Therearemomentsinlifethatchangeus,momentsthatalterourcourse,andmomentsthatmakeusreflectonouractions.Forme,itwasthedayIwrotealettertomycolleague,Mark.Itwasanapologyletter,amessagefrommyhearttohis,expressingmyregretforthehurtIcausedhim.Whatstartedasanordinarydayintheofficeendedupbeingaturningpointinmylife.Andhere'sthestory.MarkandIhadbeenworkingtogetherfortwoyears.Wewerebothprojectmanagersatasoftwarecompany,andwehadbeenassignedtoleadanewprojecttogether.Markwasagreatcolleague,ahardworker,andalwayswillingtohelp.Butdespitehisqualities,Ihadgrownresentfulofhim.Atfirst,Icouldn'tquiteputmyfingeronwhatwasbotheringme.Butovertime,IrealizedthatIwasjealousofhim.Hewasyoungerthanme,smarterthanme,andhadabetterrelationshipwithourboss.Ifeltlikehewasalwaystryingtoprovehimself,anditirritatedme.
Istartedtoresenthimmoreandmoreastimewenton.Iwouldcriticizehisideas,refusetocollaboratewithhim,andevenbadmouthhimtoothercolleagues.Iknewitwasn'tright,butIcouldn'thelpmyself.Thenoneday,somethingsnapped.MarkandIwereinameetingwithourbossandsomeclients.MarkpresentedanideathatIthoughtwasstupid,andIlostmytemper.Ishoutedathiminfrontofeveryone,tellinghimthathisideawasridiculousandthathewaswastingeveryone'stime.Markwasshocked.Helookedhurtandembarrassed,andIcouldseethatIhadcrossedaline.Ourbosstriedtodefusethesituation,butthedamagewasdone.MarkandIstoppedtalkingtoeachother,andourprojectsufferedasaresult.Afewdayswentby,andIrealizedhowmuchImissedworkingwithMark.IknewIhadbeenwrongtolashoutathim,andIwantedtomakethingsright.ButIdidn'tknowhow.
That'swhenIdecidedtowritehimaletter.Iwantedtoexpressmyregret,apologizeformybehavior,andaskforhisforgiveness.Itwasalongshot,butIfeltlikeitwasmyonlyoption.Ispenthourswritingandrewritingtheletter,tryingtogetthetonejustright.Ididn'twanttosoundinsincereortoodramatic.IwantedhimtoknowthatIwastrulysorryandthatIvaluedourfriendship.Finally,Iprintedouttheletterandputitinanenvelope.IaddressedittoMark'sofficeanddroppeditinthemailboxonmywayhome.Itwasoutofmyhandsnow.Thenextdayatworkwasnerve-wracking.Ididn'tknowhowMarkwouldreacttotheletter,orifhewouldevenreaditatall.Butwhenhewalkedintotheoffice,hewalkedstraightovertome.
Ifeltmyheartsink.Hehadreadit,buthedidn'tsayanythingelse.Washemadatme?Didhethinktheletterwasstupid?Ifeltawaveofreliefwashoverme.Markhadforgivenme,andheappreciatedmygesture.Fromthatdayon,ourrelationshipchanged.Westartedtoworktogetheragain,collaboratingonourprojectandevensharingideas.Ifeltlikeaweighthadbeenliftedoffmyshoulders.Butmorethanthat,theexperiencemademereflectonmybehavior.Irealizedthatjealousyandresentmentweretoxicemotions,andthattheywereholdingmebackinmycareerandinmylife.
Idecidedtoworkonmyself,toletgoofmyenvyandtofocusonbeingabettercolleague,abetterfriend,andabetterperson.AnditallstartedwiththatlettertoMark.Asimplemessagethatchangedeverything.Lookingbacknow,I'mgratefulfortheexperience.Ittaughtmetheimportanceofreflection,ofadmittingmymistakes,andofbeingbraveenoughtomakeamends.Anditshowedmethateveninthedarkestmoments,there'salwaysawaytofindthelight.
