Apologies

Need something to think about?

Take this. When someone does something that makes you upset and you feel that it was something they could have avoided, what is it that you expect out of that person, that is of course, other than, if possible, their undoing what it was they did in the first place to make you upset? Apologize right? Right. Well what is an apology? Rather, what is the nature of an apology?
Here's how i see it: an apology is the announcement/acknowledgment of regret felt for an action (or lack of) resulting in an inconvenience to another individual (and I say individual rather than person because I apologized to my dog earlier today for stepping on his paw). Example. You're late to pick someone up from the airport. That person is inconvenienced because he/she not only is jet lagged and carrying 40lbs of luggage (70lbs if that person is a she) but also has to wait in an environment filled with people in a great hurry and in bad moods for similar reasons. Well then, you feel horrible for putting this person through said situation. You feel regret and experience guilt. You apologize therefore acknowledging these emotions. This person, although not fully, feels a tiny bit better and to a certain extent forgives you (but probably doesn't forget).
How can someone's guilt make someone else feel better?
In the end their pain and suffering weren't wiped away....