“True forgiveness is when you can say ‘Thank you for that experience’.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Sunday morning I headed for a run. It’s a usual thing that I do first thing in the morning – run. That’s the usual part.
The unusual part is what I encounter along my path. There’s a new story every time I hit the pavements.
It’s the most extraordinary feeling ever, all the surprises, new faces, high-fiving friends, reactions, beautiful moments, etc. It’s all there for me to pick up and bring back.
This last Sunday while I was looking over the distance, the CIBC Run for the Cure participants had just began their run and I was bursting with so many emotions and all teary-eyed, I looked ahead for a moment and there he was, running the opposite direction and staring right at me: Lance Armstrong or his look-alike! Probably a look-alike! 😀
My train of thoughts changed on the spot: “How can this man be so harshly judged by the world? A world who barely knows him on a personal level, a world who are guilty of doing some wrong at some point in their lives, punishes him so harshly.”
Ok, so he felt REALLY good the first time and did it three times!
Haven’t you done something so wrong repeatedly because it felt too good?
He lied but he didn’t personally hurt us, just probably his closest and dearest and I’m sure they’ll find a way to get over this.
He raised a lot of money with his lies for cancer awareness and to help find a cure.
No one complained then!
We are a judgmental crowd, as long as the fingers are not pointing at us!
And my thoughts kept going…
What makes ones’ forgiveness easier than the other’s?
Do we judge and hang on to the pain because it makes it easier not to look at our own faults in the mirror?
I once thought of myself as a very forgiving person until someone very dear and close to me chose to take “some idiotic actions” against me. I became the angriest, stressed, hurt, betrayed, etc. person as a result. I couldn’t shake it off. I tried everything to bring myself back to the “Happy Tandar”!
Nothing worked.
Finally I gave in, let my guards down and invited the pain in fully but this time by trying to understand the other side – NOT accepting but understanding.
Do not mistake these two.
I wanted absolute freedom and happiness and there was only one way to get to that level: Forgiveness.
As a result, I get over such humps so much easier these days and move right on.
I’m sure you all have someone to forgive.
Make the decision and throw yourself into it.
Set yourselves free.
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
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