So, at the moment in my life I feel like on more occasions than usual, the word 'sorry' would make things easier. When I was younger my parents instilled in me the importance of apologising. Here is a regular situation involving my brother, my mum and myself.

Mum: Dan, did you hit Matt?
 
Spoken quietly while avoiding eye contact
 Dan:  Yes Mum

Mum: What do we know about hitting?

Dan: It's not nice

Mum: So, what do we say?

Dan: Sorry

Mum: Sorry who?

Dan: Sorry Matt

Mum: Sorry for what?

Dan: Sorry Matt for hitting you

Mum: Why are you sorry?

Dan: Sorry Matt for hitting you because I know it's wrong and I don't want to hurt you.

Mum: Now give your brother a hug and go play.


So hopefully, you can see from all that how important apologies were in my childhood. It was important that we said all of it in the one sentence and we couldn't leave until we'd apologised properly. Saying the word sorry was never enough and I still feel that way in my adult life. I feel, as an adult and you wish to apologise, you should know how to do it properly. It shows respect not just to the person, but to apologies. You need to say sorry, who you're sorry to (Matt), what you're sorry for (hitting him), and why you're sorry (I knew it was wrong and I don't want to hurt him). 

Look, I'm also a proud person. In situations where an apology might help the relationship with the person I've upset, I may not do it. I'll only do it if I feel I can honestly apologise the way I've been taught how. I'd rather you be angry with me for a little while than have reason to think I'm a liar or a hypocrite.