Heart to Heart

Most of us associate February with Valentine’s Day. With that association comes a variety of thoughts and emotions. There are generally thoughts of love, caring, and romance, but others feel disappointment, loss of a loved one, or sadness over what may have been. Even within being caught up in the positive aspect, we each have our own perceptions and emotions. Ideally, we would be overcome to go out and hug the world and share dark chocolate with everyone around us. Realistically, however, we all bring experiences that might not lead us to those thoughts on Valentine’s Day or any other day. If I were to distribute candy conversation hearts, the majority of them would read “love” on one side and “forgive” on the flip side. Forgiveness holds many of us back in truly loving. Some of us have let a situation take root in a part of us that seeks validation – only to actually rob us of it. When we choose not to forgive a person or situation, we give it power to control us. Life is not about being right or wrong, it is about being love. Forgiveness is an opportunity to let the light within us to burn bright and dispel the issue. Whenever you let fear or anger become so big in you, you have given it life, and through your negative feelings and actions you crowd out the love that each of us was made for. This also leads to the need for forgiveness of self. No one is honored when you let a situation take a negative hold on you. Whenever you hold onto that anger, you become defined by it. Let go and let love define you. Engaging negativity with negativity, will only punish you more than the other person, not to mention all the energy it takes to be negative and angry. I love the Buddah’s saying, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” If that doesn’t convince you that you need to let go!!!! Forgiveness is not easy – give is in the word. But, no matter how much you have been “wronged,” dig deep to let it go. While it won’t happen in that moment, forgiveness is a practice of giving and allowing others or yourself to be cleared of a debt. You can only change the future, the past is behind you – leave it there. Start over, and release the toxins from hurt instead of feeding it. Only the journey ahead will help to fade out the hurt. Whether your situation is with someone that is here with us, with yourself, or someone waiting on the other side, the expansion of love through forgiveness is always possible. I urge you to look up some quotes on forgiveness and find one, or several that resonate with you. Mindfully, and with an open heart, find the love to forgive, and practice daily. Each day brings multiple opportunities for this with the small stuff. Blessings and peace to the strength within you to forgive, and to love with a happy heart.