 Forgiveness is a powerful emotion and action. It is a release of negative, useless energy. By learning forgiveness one can move forward with a lighter step, enjoy life more fully and be spiritually and mentally at peace. When I consider my own benefits from learning to forgive, I see myself beginning to stand taller and straighter. I experience peace of spirit. I have a shelf unit in my home where I display family pictures. I began to sit in front of the pictures and often took a picture in my hands. As I looked at the pictures I thought back to moments in time where I felt I'd been hurt or wronged. I looked directly at the faces in these pictures and released old wounds and hurts. Quite often I would talk about the experience while forgiving not only that person but also forgiving myself. This took some time but with each healed wound I began to feel whole. I began to feel love for myself and I began to feel the love my family has for me. The burden I had been carrying was getting in the way of fully loving others. I talked to my parents, the first time in years. I told them of old wounds I'd thought of over the years. Memories that made me feel unworthy and unpretty. I heard my deceased parents whisper their love for me; almost felt them holding me. It was the beginning of so many lessons! A year or more after embarking on the path of forgiveness I was suddenly enlightened. One day as I realized those I'd forgiven had or have their own path, their own contract when existing in this reality. I thought of my folks and how they were raised, the beliefs and experiences they brought into their union and how they managed to their life, family and careers based on these things. My heart went out to them. I was experiencing empathy and compassion! I was ever so tenaciously walking in their moccasins, seeing a different perspective! I thought back to situations where I'd practiced forgiveness and began to understand why some instances were life-changing. A little more than forty years ago there was a space in time where I practiced forgiveness which benefited me ever since. I have an adopted sister. For years, as children, we antagonized each other. Because of family circumstances negative feelings ran high related to her adoption. As a child I believe I picked up on those negative feelings and I hated her and wished her misery. Fortunately, as I grew into adulthood, I became curious about my adopted sister. I was confused by my feelings of ill will and wondered why we never got along. One day I was so curious I called her and invited her over. She jumped on the invitation. We got together for one of many sessions where we dissected our feelings, the family dynamics and the "why" behind our childhood emotions. As we talked we discovered we really liked each other. It was the beginning of a strong and loving bond between us that is quite different from my other sibling relationships. Recently I thought back to the period of time where we expressed our feelings and forgave each other. Because this experience was so potent I can visualize it even now. As I visualize I feel again the great release of negative emotions. I feel once more the wondrous joy that filled me in its place. I feel the respect and love which were born back then. Through the years I have remained a little in awe at this experience. Adoption notwithstanding my sister is a true sister; she is a soul sister. She is such an integral part of my life I cannot imagine being disassociated from her as I once was. When I think of my sister I am filled with love for her and I'll forever be grateful I was brave enough to step toward her in peace. "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~Mahatma Gandhi |
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