People lie for lots of reasons, often because it seems like a way to get what they want with less effort.
Apologies are not pass/fail.
Just because you're in the driver's seat, doesn't mean you have to run people over.
Take Time Out. It's not a real vacation if you're reading email or calling in for messages.
I don't suffer from an abundance of politeness.
We have a finite amount of time. Whether short or long, it doesn't matter. Life is to be lived.