"AN APOLOGY IS THE SUPERGLUE OF LIFE. IT CAN REPAIR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING."
- Lynn Johnston

Whether in our work or personal life, periodic need for an apology is inevitable; empathy and sincerity are vital to its successful execution.

"A STIFF APOLOGY IS A SECOND INSULT....THE INJURED PARTY DOES NOT WANT TO BE COMPENSATED BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN WRONGED. HE WANT'S TO BE HEALED BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN HURT."
- G.K. Chesterton

So, remember your purpose in offering an apology is to give comfort to the other person and not relief to yourself. Therefore:

"NEVER RUIN AN APOLOGY WITH AN EXCUSE."
- Kimberly Johnson

True apologies should not be given so much for "what" happened as for "why" it happened, for:

"TRUE REMORSE IS NEVER JUST REGRET OVER CONSEQUENCES; IT IS REGRET OVER MOTIVES."
- Mignon McLaughlin (The Neurotics Notebook, 1960)

Unfortunately, we all know that:

"APOLOGIZING TO A STRANGER IS EFFORTLESS - TO A FRIEND EXCRUCIATING."
- T.L.T.

But OH so important! Friends are our CHOSEN family. True friends, whether business, social, or families of origin are a gift and a responsibility.

"TRUE FRIENDS ARE GOD'S REWARD FOR PUTTING UP WITH DIFFICULT INLAWS AND FAMILY MEMBERS."

But heart-felt apologies often are the only bridge holding or re-uniting familial relationships.

"IN SOME FAMILIES, PLEASE IS DESCRIBED AS THE MAGIC WORD. IN OUR HOUSE, HOWEVER, IT WAS SORRY".
- Margaret Laurence

A sincere and effective apology has three parts:
1) I'M SORRY!
2) IT WAS MY FAULT!
3) HOW DO I MAKE IT RIGHT?

We often apologize for the wrong things because we think it is expected - not because we actually acknowledge the necessity to help the other person actually feel better. Or we may apologize more to maintain a certain public persona, rather than to right a wrong. It is noteworthy that (in spite of all the lawyer jokes):

"A BUSINESSMAN IS THE ONLY MAN WHO IS FOREVER APOLOGIZING FOR HIS OCCUPATION."
- Gilbert Chesterton

A person's occupation or line of work has nothing to do with the person they truly are, or how they treat others. People in the business or professional worlds often mistakenly assume an apology somehow weakens their stature or position, so they avoid them, preferring to spout off macho phrases such as:

"IT'S EASIER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN PERMISSION."

Cool, dude! It sounds tougher, more aggressive and less "wimpy." But in truth, an honest statement of apology requires the self-confidence of the truly grounded person, just as the response of the offended reveals their true character. A truism:

"THE WEAK CAN NEVER FORGIVE. FORGIVENESS IS THE ATTRIBUTE OF THE STRONG."
- Mahatma Gandhi