The Other Side of Forgiveness

Life is trial and error. It is important to extend kindness to ourselves when life puts us in situations we are not equipped to handle. I made mistakes in my journey, many because I was too inexperienced, naïve, and had no frame of reference by which to act. There was no logical explanation to address why these things happened to me. No excuses were good enough, and generic platitudes sounded ineffectual. As I moved through the journey, there were times I could only see one step ahead, without clarity or certainty that I would ever progress beyond my trauma.

Hindsight is a cruel beast and a great teacher. I can see now that there were things I should have done and not done to hasten the journey. I don’t have the opportunity to do things differently, but I can highlight the lessons learned to help you determine if any apply to you. I did the best I could with what I knew then and with the degree of healing I had at that time. I choose not to dwell on regrets, knowing that indulging in those thoughts will impede continued progress. Although my journey was unique, I believe many of the same hindrances I experienced can delay healing in others.