Forgiveness

"Forgiveness doesn't mean forgotten.  It doesn't even mean a pardon, but if we hold on to our anger and resentment, then it is only ourselves who are being punished." Amish Grace film line

Life provides each of us opportunities to forgive, sometimes the opportunities seem to come in clusters.  Some years ago I read the book, Disappearance of the Universe, by Gary Renard.  Powerful.  His premise is that none of this (what seems to be the story of our lives) is really real, and that the only reason for being alive is to forgive --- ourselves and others.  He even suggests a practice of 'pre-forgiving' to prevent some of the injuries one may sustain in life.  You may or may not subscribe to his premise, but most religions echo the encouragement of the practice of forgiveness.  One reason to forgive is that holding a grudge is harmful to our health.  There have been actual studies in which the negative thoughts and actions of a person harm their own heart and the hearts of others exposed to this negativity.  As caregivers, we probably have the opportunity to forgive ourselves for any times we have shown up in ways less than we wanted.  And, we most certainly have all experienced the injustices directed at us by others.  Today, let us consider making the choice to forgive ourselves and others.  What if it is as simple as making that choice? --  I forgive.