If you’ve ever watched “MacGyver,” you probably think most everything can be fixed with whatever materials you happen to have on hand. And perhaps there’s a kernel of truth to that.

Yet so many of our “broken” things reside in the feeling domain, where no band-aid or magic ointment can be applied. We speak before thinking, express an opinion best kept to ourselves, offer ill-conceived and unsolicited advice, and suddenly find ourselves trodding directly on someone else’s toes.

I guess that’s what making amends is all about. We attempt to repair the damage by cleaning our side of the street. Then all we can do is let it go and hope that our apologies are accepted. We emerge a little older and a little wiser.

At least that’s the theory.