Hello, friends, what a week it’s been; heavy, overwhelming, and full of things that left us shaken. With everything going on, I felt pulled to write about something we all wrestle with at some point: forgiveness.

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful and transformative choices we can make. At its core, it’s about letting go of resentment, anger, or the desire to get even with someone who’s hurt us. It doesn’t mean pretending the hurt never happened or excusing bad behavior. Instead, it’s about freeing ourselves from the weight of that pain, so it no longer controls our lives.

A lot of people misunderstand forgiveness. They think it means condoning what was done or simply forgetting about it. But true forgiveness doesn’t mean you’re okay with what happened, and it doesn’t erase the hurt. What it does is loosen the grip that the offense has on you, giving you back your peace of mind and really, forgiveness is more of a gift to us than anyone else. Carrying grudges around is exhausting. Studies even show that holding onto anger and bitterness can increase stress, harm your heart, and mess with your sleep. When we let go, we make room for calm, healing, and emotional freedom.

Forgiving doesn’t erase the memory of what happened, but it changes how we carry it. Instead of replaying it with anger or hate, we can look back without feeling overwhelmed. That shift is where true healing begins.

On a deeper level, forgiveness is tied to empathy. It challenges us to see the humanity in others, realizing that everyone is flawed, and that people often act out of their own pain or struggles. That doesn’t excuse their actions, but it helps us move away from seeing the world as “good versus bad” and recognize the complexity of being human.