Forgiveness

I used to think that forgiveness was a feeling that I had to wait for---once I felt the feeling, I could forgive the other person.

Last year, I had a moment of clarity.  One morning I woke up and realized that forgiveness is not a feeling at all.  It is an action---more specifically, it's a choice.  It's the choice to let go of blame, anger, pain, and feeling yourself a victim of the situation.  No longer did I have to wait until I felt better about someone or something, I could be proactive and forgive and carry on with my life without the extra baggage.  And why would I not forgive?  We are after all products of our particular circumstances, our nurturing and our genetic make-up.  The poet, Maya Angelou said it best:

"We do the best we can with what we know, and when we know better, we do better."

If you are holding onto pain caused by another, forgive them.  Forgiveness is a gift to others, but most of all you will find that it is a gift to yourself.