As a woman who is living in the Autumn of her life, I can’t help but appreciate how subliminally and elegantly the Earth teaches me how to open, release, and forgive.
Imagine the leaves on the deciduous trees as our anger, resentments, bitterness, and self-recriminating thoughts. We become so attached to these that even when it’s time to let them go, we don’t.
I imagine those leaves swirling through the air, dancing with each other, feeling the freedom of forgiveness.
But what we humans do is hold on to a stance, a position, a hurt, a transgression thinking this is somehow noble, valiant, and keeps us on the moral high ground. In fact, what we are doing is preventing that leaf from doing its sky-dance, forcing it to it wither on the tree.
Releasing our firm grip on past transgressions against us and/or releasing our firm grip on the shame of our past transgressions against ourselves is the most noble, virtuous, and brave thing we can do in this life. But it’s not a one-time event, Just like the leaves on the tree. There are so many of them that need to release and swirl in freedom in the air.
Why is there only one word for this heart process? For that’s what forgiveness is, a process of the heart that we engage in every day. After years of holding our fist tight, we must remind ourselves every fucking day to open that fist up and release.
This is not easy. Simple? Yes. But not easy.
We slip into our old pattern so easily; it may take weeks to realize we’re resentful and angry at someone (or ourselves) again.
Our ego easily adopts the moral superiority of our position and justifies why we should stay in anger, resentment, and bitterness.
It isn’t until we feel the strain of our heavy feelings that we remember to open our fist and release.
This Autumn, practice releasing these old patterned heavy thoughts and feelings and let them swirl in their freedom dance.
If you want to talk to me more about forgiveness, contact me here.