I think that Kichi and Apo hit their heads on the nail.
To me forgiveness is not so much as actually forgiving, but understanding what the other party's motivations are. In context, I worked for some years as a nurse and I knew from the very beginning that I would come across people I didn't like, didn't agree with their point of view or even worse, have done something criminal. My initial reaction would of course be to get the hell away from such people, but you can't do that when you're working. So instead I tried to understand what events would lead another human being to be in such a position, accept that not everyone would make the same decisions I would and even that criminals are human beings. When I was working with my patients everyone was of equal worth, no matter what their history might have been.
Though, on the topic of people hurting you over and over, some relationships are not healthy and sometimes it's just best not to keep in contact anymore (at least until they can with actions show you that they won't hurt again, words don't matter much in this case). You can forgive, but don't be naïve. Getting hurt falls in the same category for me as getting offended, you decide if an action or a phrase can get to you (though I don't think it's a green light for others to treat you anyway they like without regard of how you take it). Forgiveness should not be something you have to give either, it should be somehow earned by the other party.
(Did that make any sense at all..?)
To me forgiveness is not so much as actually forgiving, but understanding what the other party's motivations are. In context, I worked for some years as a nurse and I knew from the very beginning that I would come across people I didn't like, didn't agree with their point of view or even worse, have done something criminal. My initial reaction would of course be to get the hell away from such people, but you can't do that when you're working. So instead I tried to understand what events would lead another human being to be in such a position, accept that not everyone would make the same decisions I would and even that criminals are human beings. When I was working with my patients everyone was of equal worth, no matter what their history might have been.
Though, on the topic of people hurting you over and over, some relationships are not healthy and sometimes it's just best not to keep in contact anymore (at least until they can with actions show you that they won't hurt again, words don't matter much in this case). You can forgive, but don't be naïve. Getting hurt falls in the same category for me as getting offended, you decide if an action or a phrase can get to you (though I don't think it's a green light for others to treat you anyway they like without regard of how you take it). Forgiveness should not be something you have to give either, it should be somehow earned by the other party.
(Did that make any sense at all..?)
When I was young, there was a god with infinite power protecting me. Is there anyone else who felt that way? And was sure about it? but the first time I fell in love, I was thrown down - or maybe I broke free - and I bade farewell to God and became human. Now I don't have God's protection, and I walk on the ground without wings, but I don't regret this hardship. I want to live as a person. -Arina Tanemura
