wow!

Might I suggest that you log on to Office Live Workspace...It is free, safe and controllable...

When he brings it up just tell him what happened.

Honesty is the best policy always. imo.

Be well,

Pat

Years ago, when my brother was a teenager, he was angry with my mom and wrote a scathing letter to her, never meaning to let her see it. He was just venting. But my mom found it, and she was crushed. But time mended their relationship, and now they are very close.

I hope your friend can come to the realization that you were only trying to release those feelings in a way that wouldn't hurt him, but he got caught up in an honest mistake. Perhaps ask him how he vents when he's angry with you. Maybe contact him by phone before he gets a chance to see the email to explain?

It's certainly OK to be angry -- and using email as a journal is good way to work out the anger. Perhaps a special email account specifically for that, that has no addresses except your own would be a good way to handle that (altho you've probably thought of that by now...).

I sincerely hope that you and your friend can have an open and frank discussion about it -- and that this experience might even bring you closer, in time.

OUCH. I feel your pain. Did it once. Not fun, but it all worked out after much discussion, sweating and anxiety.

If there is a bright side to this situation, it might be that you will be able to discuss something painful with your friend that you never would have otherwise addressed. While it is very painful to have pressed the wrong button, consider it an opportunity to rise above a stuck place.

Also bring up that this was your venting technique and was not intended to be sent. I like the idea of telling your friend what happened before he finds it on his own.

Pen and paper are more therapeutic, and have the advantage of being combustible... once they have served their purpose.

So true on many levels. I like Lynn's suggestion of pen & paper. My mom had an issue with one of her sister-in-laws. She thought she was talking to someone else of the same name and inadvertently sent it to the wrong person. Time healed wounds and it actually opened the door for a meaningful dialogue as my mom's comments were mirrored by many and the aunt really needed to hear it anyway.