Recognize that no matter who hurt you as a child (or as an adult), you have what it takes to overcome that pain. You really do, please believe it – have that faith.

More good news: not only can you overcome, you can also go on to forgive those who caused the suffering. It just takes some time.

If you’re like me, you may have carried around horrific rage and angst – for years – and then dished it out to others, here and there, thinking it was justified, or quite possibly not even realizing that you were doing it.

If you’re like me, later you may have realized you made many an “oops” and after some time passed felt terrible regret.

Well, hey, there is some more good news: you CAN also forgive yourself. Again, it just takes time.

It’s not the mistakes that you or others have made that are inherently bad, it’s the part about not forgiving that is the most harmful (or bad, if you want to label it that).

You have to forgive or you can’t enjoy now, never mind move forward. You have to forgive or you truly have nothing at all to give! And wasn’t giving what you wanted for yourself in the first place? Didn’t you want someone to give to you – to care?

You can give to yourself now, instead of continuing to take away from yourself – and how? By working on overcoming and forgiving!

Peace and love to all on this fine Sunday evening.