R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I seem to have a reoccuring theme in my life: the battle for respect. I think because I am quiet and shy, people think that it's ok to treat me poorly. This has happened with my supervisors at work (including my clinical supervior last week the bastard!), my school supervisor, and even friends and family. It's at the point where I am considering having "welcome" tatooed on my forehead. The question is how do you cure the disease to please?
The funny thing is that I have no problem confronting my clients, but when it comes to those close to me or in a position of power, I lose my nerve. I have started to experiment with being less of a doormat at work, by not asking how high when my director at work says jump. I know that this sounds like a risky mistake, but it's acctually worked for me. When I started to show more of a backbone at work, my supervisor started to treat me ever so slightly less like a doormat. But she's just one of the people that need to be reformed.

"I'm sorry"

I have heard those two little words a million times over the last three months:
"I'm sorry I forgot about our appointment. For the third time"
"I'm sorry that you didn't get to talk in supervision. again."
"I'm sorry that I interupted you to ask your sister a question.again."
"I'm sorry that I didn't answer your email. again."
"I'm sorry that I asked you about your week and then ignored the answer to focus on your sister/my grandchildren. again."
The funny thing is that most of the time, they don't really mean that the person is sorry. What they really mean is "It really sucks for me that you are upset about something I did or said so now I'm going to say these two words with the hope that I will be exzonerated (sp?) from all wrong doing." Nope. I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. If the person was truly sorry, he/she would make an effort to change the behavior instead of continually repeating the same offenses and then offering the standard empty "I'm sorry". you're sorry? Then PROVE IT!!