Let’s ask for forgiveness.
Let’s ask forgiveness for all those times we have let fear have its way.
When we didn’t have the courage to step forward fully and take hold of the great things life was offering.
When we didn’t have the courage to make a stand in defense of ourselves or someone else.
When we didn’t have the courage to embrace the task of living or to do what’s right.
Let’s ask forgiveness for all those times we’ve been blind.
When we couldn’t see the opportunities to live life the way we wanted, instead blindly following the overwhelming noise of “normal”.
When we couldn’t see that committing time to things we didn’t want to do meant taking time away from things we did want to do.
When we couldn’t see the best path to take.
Let’s ask forgiveness for all those times we have been jealous.
When we couldn’t be happy for someone else’s success.
When we couldn’t appreciate what we already had.
When we couldn’t help but compare our journey to theirs.
Let’s ask forgiveness for all those times we couldn’t say “enough.”
When we ate and drank to excess.
When we let bad habits go on an undefeated run.
When we forgot the long-term benefits of moderation.
Let’s ask forgiveness for all those times we’ve done wrong by someone.
When we lied.
When we insulted.
When we didn’t consider the response of love.
Who are we asking forgiveness from?
We’re asking for forgiveness from ourselves. For making mistakes. For not being 100% every time. For being like every other human; for being human.
Yes we should be strict with ourselves. Yes we need to learn the lessons when we fall short. Yes we can be better. Forgiveness isn’t about letting ourselves away with it. It’s about releasing the regrets. We can’t live in the past when the present calls for our full attention.
We have standards we want to live up to, but the simple fact is we won’t always live up to them. Despite our best efforts, we’ll get it wrong sometimes. No one has ever been perfect.
So we review our actions each day. We take pride in what we did well, and take note of what we could have done better.
We don’t beat ourselves up, we calmly analyse. We forgive.
Then, we make the forged-in-fire commitment not to make the same mistakes tomorrow.
