"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." Gandhi not only spoke these words, but he also lived by them. For most of us, it's easier said than done.
Learning to forgive is something only a few of us can attain. I don't like to stand with past grudges, but I can't forget how people have wronged me. I guess you can say that's selfish of me. Or is it just me being cautious? I've given people second chances only to find that they never planned on changing themselves. Instead, they were trying to change me. We're all constantly changing, however, there are some who remain stagnant. Then you come to realize, it was never your fault.
If you surround yourself with people who practice selflessness and honesty, then their voice must not serve as an opinion for you but a matter of validation. If they have found the good in you as you have in them, then they must be wise enough to differentiate the right and wrongs in the values of others. This is not to say to hang on their every word, but to take their conclusions into consideration.
I am capable of thinking for myself, but it's not always the right thing. I used to hold grudges. I used to never forgive and forget. Now I forgive but never forget because I know better than to go through that same pain again. We can all learn something from our past mistakes as well as someone else's.
In today's world, it's become a little harder to remain patient. It's become harder to end our conflicts. And it's become easy to plead ignorance. We're all unique matters of existence made up of contrasting wirings of behavior. It's why we can't make everybody happy. No world is perfect but we can try to be close to it.
In order for me to learn how to forgive, I had to grow as a person with each challenge thrown in my wavering path. It was never easy and it never will be easy. Sometimes it's easier to cut off all ties with a person, but it's also the hardest when that person once meant something special to you. You morph into a miserable and spiteful person. I never wanted people to envision me consumed in that darkness. I had to practice genuine kindness and leniency. To find your inner peace, submit to bliss.
You've probably heard that "the best path is the hardest earned" or that "the hardest path is the right path." Whatever it may be, the ones who are capable of change know it to be the difficult truth.
Don't hold in the anger. Never give in to selfish reasonings. Always forgive, but never forget. Leave the world while knowing that you left it at your best.
