This one about the woman who won't talk to another woman in the same building is easy. Next time you see the woman, reach out and offer her a handshake. Make sure your regret, remorse, (whatever you wish to call it) is written all over your face. If she does not accept your hand you will know that you did the right thing and regained your integrity. It's just faster and more appropriate to fix things than to let them marinate.
Nov 22, 2007
A Simple Approach by: The Perfect Apology Team
One simple approach would be to email the woman or drop a note in her mailbox) with a link to your letter here on the site. It does a really good job of explaining things and conveys a serious and genuine effort to resolve the issue through an apology. The fact that you posted it to the "perfect apology" site in itself illustrates that you're trying to get advice on how to do things the right way and that you care enough to do something.
Another approach you could take is to re-write the letter you submitted here (with only a few modifications) as an apology letter, and email or send it to her. Whether or not she responds is irrelevant--the letter/email conveys your sentiments and you should feel good about having said something and the efforts you have made to correct the situation.
Apologies can work very well without receiving an acknowledgment. In fact you should stress in the letter that a reply is NOT required.
