The Apology

 I am reminded that "apologize" merely lays the ground for a future offense, if there is no action beyond the words of apology.  No action means empty promises many times.  If someone apologizes, 10th steps me, I wish them well, in the sense that I wish they do some actions to change their lives.  Guilty feelings generally do not bear enough energy to get us into action for the better.  If I tell someone that I apologize, I ask myself, "And what is my plan of action, step by step, to not do this again?"  If you make a mess, and then apologize for not cleaning it up, what do you do next?  Walk away from this mess or the next mess?  In recovery this would be called pre-step one.