Conflict, resolution. Conflict, resolution. A cycle that has occurred since the origins of man, a natural phenomenon that has manifested throughout generations. On all levels of importance, the most significant part of this cycle is the resolution. Many times that resolution is a personal one, often involving forgiveness. Forgiveness of one’s self, a friend, a sister, a stranger. Conflict is such a huge part of everyday life, which is why it is so important to forgive-- but not necessarily forget. Forgiving a person does not always mean you need to hold hands and skip around town like nothing happened; it means recognizing human flaws and bettering yourself from them. A person who holds on to his anger is only hurting himself. It is impossible to move on and grow as a person if you are holding yourself back with your own bitterness. Even in the worst situations, it is possible, no it is necessary to forgive.

There are an infinite number of examples of how forgiveness ultimately leads to better things, but one of the most astounding and truly beautiful examples is the story of Eva Kor. Born in 1934, Eva Kor survived so many hardships during her young life, including Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz. However, despite all of the terrible things she went through as a child, she still found a place in her heart for people who were responsible for the death of her family. In her adult life, she adopted the grandson of a Nazi who had been responsible for the death of over 1 million people. In addition to that, she made efforts to publicly show her forgiveness for those who wronged her and the entire Jewish population at the time. This is a tremendous step to take after everything she had been through, and she even says, “‘Now I was originating action and that is the feeling of power and that comes from forgiveness and that made me realize that we can control how we feel. And that was such a release of pressure of anger, and to me that was a very interesting result of giving a gift to a Nazi. I ended up getting the biggest gift,’” showing how her experiences and forgiveness helped her to grow. If someone who went through the most unimaginable pain can forgive the unforgivable, the message can apply to everyday life. Forgiveness is necessary.

While forgiveness is very important to do in all situations, it can also provide with many emotional benefits for future endeavors. Forgiveness provides ultimate clarity, and peace within oneself. People who find themselves unable to forgive, and hold grudges long term often put focus on the negatives in their life, and this often puts strain on relationships with people who are not even involved in the problem. People who don’t embrace forgiveness as a part of their life are often closed-minded, and blind themselves to their own feelings- resulting in resentment of themselves and others around them. It is truly impossible to live healthily and not allow forgiveness to be a part of your life and healing process.

In order to take full advantage of the beauty life has to offer, one must appreciate the mistakes that people make in life and learn to forgive- but not necessarily forget. Learning from experiences is how growth occurs, and while it is important to not be naive, it is more important to accept flaws in others and oneself. In doing this, it is healthier for the body, mind, and soul.