Forgiveness

"Life is an adventure in forgiveness," Norman Cousins.

I had a recent conversation with a friend about forgiveness.  It does seem like life continues to give us experiences in which we have an opportunity to forgive.  Some people even think the purpose of life is to forgive.  "True forgiveness is the real purpose of life, but you've got to choose it in order to make it yours," Gary Renard.  This author goes on to say that we can choose forgiveness to the extent that we even pre-forgive; thereby avoiding some experiences in which we might need to learn to forgive.  He also says that "forgiveness is an attitude"; that, instead of judging, we can have an attitude of forgiveness. 

Whether any of this is true, I began a long time ago to believe that when we do not forgive, we are forever tethered to the person we have not forgiven.  That alone gives me impetus to forgive!  Forgiveness cuts the thread which binds us to the other.  Forgiveness does not actually have to involve the other person.  We can do it through visualization, or ritual, or thoughtful choice.  I believe that it is important to forgive small and big things.  Whatever I don't forgive is affecting my peace of mind, and nothing is worth losing my peace and well being.  We can also forgive memories or forgive someone who has died; they do not need to be alive and/or interacting with us for us to forgive.

Forgiveness is a choice.  A good choice.