The Art of Apologising

How often do you hear people apologizing in our daily lives? Several times a day? "I'm sorry" is possibly among the most over-used words, next to the ever popular "I love you". We apologize for everything; for being late, saying something we should not, the list goes on. It has come to a point where "sorry" has lost its significance. Do we actually mean it when we utter the word? Or is that the best way to get out of an awkward situation?
It has never been easy to admit our mistakes, much less apologize for it. Our "face" and pride are at stake, how could we take that first step? As such, many people have mastered the art of apologizing without saying sorry. Trapped in a situation where an apology is needed, they would simply say, "I apologize." Note that the words "I'm sorry" are not being uttered here. We cannot say they did not apologize, they did. But whether or not they are sincere about the apology is debatable.
On the other hand, what if they had said sorry? Did they really regret their deed? How often had we said countless "I'm sorry" to pacify someone we had hurt? It is probably the ideal way to ask for forgiveness and heal wounds. However, we should realize that there is nothing difficult about saying sorry compared to the pain we might have already caused. Are those mere words able to repair wrecked faith and trust?
The ease with which we say sorry also reveals our desensitization to the word. We are so used to apologizing that we often do not think twice about saying it. Most of us would have had the experience where we said sorry to people even though the other party was at fault. For instance, I apologize when someone bumps into me or steps on my foot. In retrospect, I wonder: shouldn't that person be saying sorry instead? Why am I doing it? This shows that we have become so accustomed to the word that we no longer utter it for its basic purpose.
The art of apologizing is mind-boggling in a certain sense. When can we say sorry at an appropriate time and actually mean it? In our search for the answer, perhaps we should use the word with caution and remember its significance.