Everyone ends up hurt at one point in their life or another. Every once in a while, we let in people we shouldn’t and push away the people we want the most. Everyone puts up walls and locks all the doors, because the person you once loved doesn’t feel like home anymore.

It’s okay to push people away, but make sure it’s toxic ones. And it’s okay to let people in, but make sure they are the right ones. And it’s okay to forgive, but don’t forget how you felt because you’ll need to remember how it feels the next time you need to know whether to push someone away or let them in.

“In letting go of that pain, I felt free. I wasn’t letting a three-year-old incident bother me. In that way, I guess forgiveness is the most important tool humans have been blessed with. Because, with it, we can let go of unnecessary burdens and truly own our lives.”
-My Fifth Grade Bully, Chicken Soup for the Soul

Holding on to the anger, holding on to the pain, holding on to the hurt- it leaves you bitter. And once you choose to let go, you feel free, feel free to be happy and enjoy life.

All of high school, I held on to the anger, pain, and hurt I had accumulated from ex boyfriends and toxic friends. I held on to the pain of being cheated on, and I held on to the pain of losing friends. So I chose to let go. I chose to move on. And just because you forgive, does not mean you have to keep those toxic people in your life. I let go of the toxic people but chose to forgive as well. I no longer have a reason to remain angry. They are no longer a part of my life, so there is no reason for me to use any of my energy to be angry with them.

Sometimes someone in your life isn’t toxic, but they just mess up. They went down the wrong path and strayed away from light, and it’s okay to forgive them and keep them in your life.

"There is no weakness in forgiveness" -Friday Night Lights

There is no weakness in forgiveness. There is no weakness is holding on to people. Sometimes people turn away from you because they need to find themselves, and it’s okay for you to do the same. It’s okay to forgive them for leaving you, it’s okay to let them back into your life.

There is no weakness in forgiveness. There is no weakness in holding on. Just make sure that you are holding on for the right reasons. Make sure you are holding on because that person or those people, are right for you to have in your life, that they are good for you. Make sure you guard your heart but also know when to let down your walls. Don’t hold on just because the memories are fond, or because the person they used to be is someone you love. Make sure the new memories will be fond as well, and that the person they are now is someone you will still love.

There is no weakness in forgiveness. Don’t let toxic people turn you bitter, but don’t let them hold you back. Forgive when your heart tells you to, and let the right people in. Know when to hold on and when to let go, and don’t hold back because you feel like you are expected to. Don’t push someone away because everyone is telling you to. And don’t shut someone out because you feel weak for letting them in. There is no weakness in forgiveness.