It bugs me to hear the word ‘sorry’ nowadays! It has become grossly overused and a times unnecessary. The word ‘Sorry is an expression for condolence or regret however it has come to replace terms like ‘excuse me, ‘I beg your pardon’ and oh dear. I hear the word Sorry a lot especially in public places such as the malls, the supermarkets, bus stops, banks, market and generally where there are people and most especially young people. The first question that often come to my mind when people say their unjustifiable sorry is “whatever are you sorry for? An excuse me will suffice thank you.
It’s almost as though the word Sorry has become a slang in this day and age. You’re in a store and someone almost bumps into you hear “SORRY?, You open a door to let someone in and I bet you’re quick to hear SORRY!, I bet you won’t hear sorry when someone farts in a public place. So why are we sorry and when should we use the term sorry? Sorry is feeling regret, compunction, sympathy, pity, etc. To be sorry to leave one’s friends; to be sorry for a remark; to be sorry for someone in trouble. A regrettable or deplorable; unfortunate; tragic: a sorry situation; to come to a sorry end. A term associated with sorrow; suggestive of grief or suffering; melancholy; dismal, wretched, poor, useless, or pitiful these are the situations associated with the word sorry! So why would anyone be quick to embrace these situations especially when going about normal and daily interactions.
I remember when my mother would tell me “Now you tell your brother/sister you’re sorry.” What then comes out of my mouth sounds more like a child who is possessed than a sincere apology. Teeth clenched … jaw set … and the words, “I’m sorry” are spoken in a forceful and almost growling tone. (If you have children, you know exactly what I’m talking about). 
It wasn’t easy to say it at all! I think its high time we stop pretending to be Sorry and actually be Sorry for the appropriate situation of being Sorry. Be specific rather than be sorry. The most important way to prove that you are truly sorry for hurting someone is to ensure that the hurtful action is not repeated. So stop saying needless and unnecessary Sorry’s.
Xoxo JUMIE.