The perfect apology is a myth if there ever was one. First of all, one must genuinely regret what they have done before they can truthfully speak the words of an apology; to be sorry for something is an internal realization, which one must come to terms with alone before expressing that understanding to another. Secondly, there is nothing more frustrating than seeing someone make mistakes, apologize for them, and promptly continue to carry out the same behavior; one can only sincerely apologize if they never make the same mistake again. Lastly, one should not expect an apology to make a problem disappear- there are no "right" words for a hurt person to hear to make their pain and anger disappear; if someone truly regrets what they have done, and the effects it has had on others, they will make an attempt to apologize for what they have done, but should not have expectations for immediate forgiveness. Only with these three understandings can an apology be truly sincere, but as its reception is often scrutinized, it can not be viewed as "perfect."

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