I tend to live by the quote, “forgive and forget.” Some may even describe me as too forgiving. I am the way I am because I know people make mistakes. People do things and later on realize what they did was wrong. People can have so much going on in their life that it affects their attitudes towards others without them even realizing it. The reason I love this motto is because it is something only you can do. No one in this world can convince you to forgive someone except yourself. So, at the end of the day, I believe it is best to look past one’s mistakes. Everyone makes them.
Forgiving is a process that isn’t the easiest, though. You shouldn’t forgive out of pity, spite, regret, or persuasion. Being able to genuinely forgive comes from a place in your heart that has a sense of understanding. If you are self aware, you know how many mistakes you make in a short amount of time. We are human. We weren’t made to be perfect. Knowing that there is no perfect person, who am I to judge or hold grudges against others? Along with this, comes a sense of empathy. Throughout life, we all experience things that test our character. Sometimes we act out of character based on our emotions. It is important to learn to not take everything to heart. You never know what someone is going through in their life.
The hardest thing for most people is being able to forgive someone for their mistakes. For me, it’s forgetting. I handle most situations with patience and understanding. I like to observe from every point of view. This makes it easy for me to forgive while difficult to forget. Since I see a situation from all angles, every little detail becomes engraved into my mind. I start overthinking. What did I do wrong? Could I have handled it differently? Will they think of me the same way they always have? These questions become stuck on replay in my head. After I forgive, I release every ounce of resentment towards that person. I am now left with contemplation. I do think that this is what builds character the most. The “moving on” part is what comes hardest for me.
The most valuable reward I receive from applying my motto is growth. I have experienced growth in every aspect of my life. I have grown in maturity, built better relationships with those closest to me, and, most important of all, grown closer to God. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. No one deserves to be shamed because of something we all do. I now know that this motto has influenced my life tremendously. I live by it constantly, and I’ve never been happier.
(Savannah Hill is a junior at Harlan County High School)