Forgive, but don't forget.
I will forgive you, but I won't forget.
“Forgiveness doesn't change the past, but it changes the future.” ~ Anonymous
When you finally accept and realize that you are ready to forgive, do it with certainty. Forgiveness is not an easy act. Forgiving him for the way he talked to you or the way he treated you is a big step for yourself. Forgiving him for all the hurt he caused you, for all the pain you felt, for all the tears you cried, for all the words he said but claims he never meant. When you do forgive, never forget.
Never forget the first time you knew it was something more than “just friends”. Never forget the way you felt in that moment and throughout the relationship. Never forget the hurt, the pain, all the tears or the words that hurt. Never forget the bad days. But even with all the negative feelings, never forget the positives. Never forget the times you laughed so hard you cried. Never forget how happy you were. Never forget the fullness you felt. Never forget the spontaneous trips for food. Never forget the road trips and crazy numerous adventures, big and small. Never forget the jam sessions. Never forget the fun times with families. Never forget how he showed you off to his friends. Never forget the silly texts when you were not feeling quite right. Never forget the small or big romantic acts, the short sweet notes, and the letters he left you. Never forget the holidays you spent together. Never forget the decisions you made.
Never forget the self-lessons you've learned. You've learned what it's like to feel wanted, to feel good enough, to feel beautiful to someone other than your parents. Never forget those moments when you felt vulnerable. Never forget about how important your self-worth is, in a relationship and out of one. Never forget the traits you learned that you liked and disliked. Never forget what it felt like to be appreciated. Never forget what it feels like to do selfless acts in hopes that it helps relieve stress for them. Never forget the joy you felt around them or being able to call them yours.
Just forgetting it all isn't going to help. The past is the past and that isn't going to change. Accepting what happened and moving forward will. It will change your future. By no means will this be an easy task, trust me, but once the task is completed, you will feel a weight lifted off of you. For me, that is exactly what it was. I felt all around better and for the first time in a long time, I was happy again. This is a decision that has to be made by only you and for only you. Of course, parents will give you advice saying one thing and your friends another, but it is ultimately your decision. Forgiving him is the best decision you can ever make. But remember, just because you forgive him, does not mean you forget. I forgave him for everything he put me through, but I won't forget the great experiences and lessons I've learned.
I forgave, but, I promise, will never forget.
