True forgiveness is when you can say, ‘Thank you for that experience.’
― Oprah Winfrey
I grew up as the “Daddy’s girl”. The bond my dad and I formed is something I held dear to my heart even as a child. My dad was a tall man, maybe more than 6 foot, fair-skinned, a Filipino-American businessman and journalist. I only saw him Saturdays or Sundays. He never slept at our home. And growing up I realized that wasn’t normal.
We were his third family, my mom being his third wife. I am their only child, but I had several half sisters and half brothers who barely knew my existence.
The year was1999. I was 9 years old. My life suddenly changed in a way I wish I could have prepared for. He left. On the day of my graduation from elementary school, I asked my mom. I was graduating with honors and I want him to be there. My mom said he was never to return. I did not understand what that really meant. I waited for endless Saturdays and Sundays but I never saw him again. It was something I couldn’t accept and believe. What did I do wrong?
Growing up in a broken home, life suddenly became a constant struggle. The abandonment and rejection was something I carried all the way through adulthood. I grew bitter and I nourished the resentment inside. I constructed an elaborate plan of retaliation. I became paranoid and I had trust issues. I was judgemental of the people around me. The darkness closed in on me and was very near to destroying my entire life. It took all kinds of willpower to be able to totally break out of it.
Here are three truths I learned which helped me find my way out of the seemingly hopeless and endless cycle of bitterness and hatred.
1. Forgiveness is all about you.
The person who caused you pain may not have asked for forgiveness and never will. Don’t wait for it to happen. Find it in your heart to not allow what they did to destroy you.
2. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Being subjected to the pain of rejection from childhood wasn’t easy. It cut deep and the wounds took time to heal but left a permanent scar. When you grant your forgiveness to the person who wronged you, you are doing yourself a favor. You may not be able to change the past but you are changing your future when you forgive.
3. Forgiveness is the only way to heal.
You have to come to terms of your situation. Acknowledge all your emotions and how conflicting they may be. It’s normal to still feel the hurt and love all at the same time. Accept the fact that it already happened and that maybe there wasn’t a way you could have prevented it from happening. While you forgive the person who hurt you, forgive yourself, too.
It was December 12, 2012 when I found out from a distant relative that he passed away due to cardiac arrest. He had a family after us and he had a son and a daughter. I even saw a picture of them while visiting him at the cemetery where his remains were placed, and his epitaph. It was too much of a sight.
I still have too many questions for him but I already accepted the truth that they would never get answered anymore. But whatever his reasons were for leaving, I’ve already forgiven him. After all, I would not the resilient and tough woman that I am now, if it were not for him.
RIP Papa. I miss you.
Photo by Helga Weber
I had an epiphany about forgiveness a week ago. For a long time, I had painful memories of a past employer. I was bullied at this workplace by my boss and one of my co-workers, who was the ringleader and manipulated people against me. Long story short, I left this job two years ago. I recently ran into an old co-worker from there, whom I used to be friendly with. She quit the job just weeks ago. She gave me some scoop on what has happened since I left: our boss has left, a couple of other coworkers have left (including the manipulative bullying ringleader, who has moved to another state entirely), and two others are thinking of leaving.
It was then that I realized that we all have to forgive because nothing stays the same. That group of people and that situation have long dissolved, qnd it’s only been two years. That energy has transformed and moved on…as energy does. So why can’t I? If I hold bitterness towards that specific group of people, and replay those old events in my head, I am keeping something alive that doesn’t really exist anymore. It’s a silly waste of my life.
It’s just like those people who stay bitter toward their high school bullies, or their old girlfriends and boyfriends from years ago. People change and situations dissolve. You’re keeping something alive that is long dead.
The sad part is that when people don’t forgive, they cannot heal inside. The person that they are angry with has most likely move on already, while they are still hurting. In the end, it is their body and mind that feel the pain and worse of all, they might start getting addicted about not forgiving and feeling angry.
Forgiveness sets people free. Whom can you forgive today?
This made me feel surprisingly emotional.
Forgiving oneself is where true forgiveness begins. We tend to be harder on ourselves than others.
When you can remember that the wounded child resides within it allows compassion for oneself.