What to say? What to do? The stagnation of fear pounds in my heart.

Freezing my voice. Paralyzing my soul.

My inner body shrinks into its cave; my physical body becomes stressed to the point of creating several new white hairs. A downward spiraling sensation rips out my roots and sucks me into a sense of hopelessness…but only for a moment. Being hurt by others is never fun, but it only allows me to go deeper into my understanding of forgiveness and love. Quick to gather myself up with all of my warrior pride, I know that everything that happens for a reason. I am here to learn.

Life is a school. Love is the lesson.

The opposite of fear is completely present love. And, to love, forgiveness must take place in all of it’s shapes and forms. But I know that I always need to start with myself. My glorious, strong, beautiful, bubbly self. Having worked out my own internal kinks and knots, I now am ready to reach out into the world; strong both within and without. Being the in the present moment is a super sweet thing when it comes to forgiveness. Here and now, sometimes it is harder to recall what was before, because we are so enthralled with the beauty and glow of what is happening, now.

I am quick to forgive because I am quick to forget.

Guess I need that memory space for something more important than a bunch of somebody else’s problems. After all, we are only responsible for ourselves and our own healing; no one else’s. When it comes down to it, romantic relationships, family relationships, whatever, whomever; we all come to this planet alone, and we will leave alone. This journey is ours and ours alone. We might as make this as pleasant as possible for ourselves. And forgiving others is a huge step in setting ourselves free.

To be free is to be present, with heart’s desires flowing…

One of my favorite forgiveness quotes is my Marlene Dietrich, “Once a woman has forgiven her man, she must not reheat his sins for breakfast.”

Who you are needing to forgive does not need to be your boyfriend or husband, but this quote definitely makes a point. Forgive and move on. Let your heart flow and go and fly and live and be free…

What does not kill us only makes us stronger. And what we learn, we can share with others. The deeper you are able to go, and even sink, the higher you are able to fly, having earning your wings by becoming working your heart muscles enough to be able to soar.

Elbert Hubbard once said “Fences are made for those who cannot fly.”

Do not fence yourself in with what was. Soar in this moment with your pain, your glory, let yourself be exactly who you are right where you are right now…and fly.