“Already you’ve been forgiven, given permission.” Dean Young reassures us in his poem “Whale Watch.” With the little-known “Forgiveness Day” celebration coming up on June 24, we are asked not only to make amends for our own indiscretions, but to accept those who may have wronged us, even if they have not yet found the words to ask for themselves.

Although they may be four short of even the popular Six Words around here, “I’m sorry” are two words that rarely come easy. As often as we may feel burdened with remorse or regret, the longing to take back what we have said or done and start anew is a difficult one to articulate, each time it crystallizes. Forgiveness is rarely easy to ask for, and often difficult to even fully recognize we want. Here are a few forgiveness-related Six-Word-Memoirs.

I got scared and I’m sorry. – buypicassos

Want to be embalmed with forgiveness. – Loon

“Dear Julene: Sorry.” -7th Grade Me – wayword_angel

I owe the zookeeper an apology. – BanjoDan

Buried you under my crazy. Sorry. – accidentaltourist

Through mirroring the world, forgiveness resides. – freidakeita

Prefer to seek forgiveness over permission. – jumpingin

KEY to fearlessness: act of forgiveness. – Dhani

He died before I could apologize. – MorgenKnight

I wish my cat could apologize. – LittleMoth

It was a joke… sorry officer. – day