Today’s Forgiving Fridays: Freedom and Forgiveness! :)

Posted on by Forgiving Connects

Happy #ForgivingFridays everyone! Yay! This is an opportunity for you to share about forgiveness & post about it ANY DAY this week! See guidelines below. ❤ You can post whatever inspires YOU to forgive and choose love.  Maybe it’s a photo or inspiring quote, or a poem, or you can share about letting go & LAUGHING like I did.

***This post is my contribution for The Daily Post’s Transformation and Frank’s Challenge, Progress. Frank this is one of the most freeing posts I’ve written so far. Thank you!***

Today’s Forgiving Fridays is freedom and forgiveness!

I realized this morning that with all the forgiveness I do, there’s still a part of me that sees myself as broken.  Like I need to be saved, there’s something wrong with me, etc.

Wow, isn’t that something?!  I’ve been doing forgiveness to get free and to complete old patterns.  What I’m seeing now is that I am often don’t give forgiveness a chance to work because I’m giving so much credence to all the things that are “wrong” with me.

The truth is, I am ok exactly as I am.

I judge myself and others sometimes.  These judgments are not who I am.  The behaviors are not who I am.  And it’s fine that I have them!

In actuality, I can accept myself as I am, forgive myself for the judgments I place and simply let them go.  Because I am more than that.

I forgive myself for judging that there is anything wrong with me. Period.  I let the rest go and remind myself I am not those things.  It’s time for me to take myself a lot less seriously. 🙂

Now that’s funny!

I went to the park this morning to watch kids.  Boy do they seem to know how to let go and laugh.  I did a video while I was there to get free inside, stand tall in my heart and to forgive myself for giving my power away to judgment.   Here I am before and after the video.  Now that’s progress!

Here’s the video I did – it’s great!: 🙂

Food is one area of my life where I’m really experiencing the freedom of forgiveness.  I had years of an eating disorder, probably for a lot of reasons – one of which is that I didn’t love myself.  All those little places I was judging, boy I didn’t love them.  Struggled with it for years.

Through forgiveness, meditation, and other practices, I let go of many judgments I placed against myself.  I did it very regularly and I didn’t quit.  I now have a direct experience of accepting myself and loving myself and can enjoy food much more.  Still a work in progress, and that’s ok too.

Here I am making progress on a wonderful piece of pumpkin pie – the fact I can enjoy it is very freeing:

****

I am SO SO grateful for all of you who contribute to Forgiving Fridays.  I learn so much from you!  Here are this week’s contributions:

Etta of  Simply Etta D. shared her exploration of what forgiveness means for her — especially how it takes time and that is so ok! She ends with great quotes. Great post, Etta!

DeBorah of Roaming Urban Gypsy shared two beautiful photo collages – on experimental lights and her cat Sylvester – that illustrate the creativity of forgiveness and coming to peace inside!

Xenia of Whippet Wisdom wrote an exquisite tanka on beginning the day with inspiration and ending it in gratitude – with adorable photos of her dogs to illustrate!

Miriam of Out an’ About gave us an amazing post full of gratitude, ordinary miracles, and kindness and patience with ourselves and others – and doing what we love.  All great keys to forgive.  A first time contributor!

Bella of ThoughtsnLifeBlog contributed a beautiful sharing and video on being gentle with ourselves.  What an awesome example of self-compassion. (Great title too).

And here’s one from a few weeks ago in case you missed it – it helped me with today’s post 🙂 :

Frank of Poetry, Short Prose and Walking contributed an ode to forgiveness and a wonderful photo that illustrates the freedom and great expansion of forgiveness. Beautiful.

****

My spiritual teacher John-Roger has a great quote, “If you want to be happy, do happy things.”  And Hafiz wrote a great poem on not taking things so seriously.  See below.  J

I love you.

Have an amazing week!

Love, Debbie 

Here are the guidelines of #ForgivingFridays:  

Forgiving Fridays banner facebook

  • Every day is Friday!  Do a post today or anytime this week.
  • Be creative – there’s LOTS of space for your expression! Write a poem, take a photo, post a quote, share your story …  what opens your heart?
  • Include #ForgivingFridays in your tags
  • Create a pingback link to this post so I can find you. 
  • Have fun – you are awesome!!  

 

Here’s the poem from Hafiz: ❤

TRIPPING OVER JOY

What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves. 

~Hafiz

 

 

76 thoughts on “Today’s Forgiving Fridays: Freedom and Forgiveness! :)”

  1. Debbie, I love the way you shate so openly and with such energy, your journey.

    A self improvement journey , baby step by baby step we get better and better , even with the few tears along the way. But, little results we see on the journey keeps us going.

    Hugs bella

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Oh Bella, thank YOU! Your comments are so full of caring, it’s like a big hug. 😊 and thanks again for your beautiful post for #ForgivingFridays. You added a gentle reminder to treat ourselves with loving kindness. 💜 Many blessings, Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Choice is powerful! And you have chosen the lightness of laughter and attitude and shared it with us …rubbing it a whole lot on me!!! 🙂 Time to take myself less seriously, yesss!
    Thank you so much for bringing back this Hafiz poem to me, I have loved it before and I love, love it now!

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    1. Oh Pragalbha, I’m so glad you found lightness and laughter in this post – yay!!! Isn’t the Hafiz poem good? 🙂 I remember I used it before, and it just seemed perfect for this blog.

      I love your presence on my blog. Thank you for your poem for Forgiving Fridays – I read it and it is absolutely beautiful. Will share in my post this Friday!! Love and blessings to you, Pragalbha. ❤ Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Pingback: Phenomenal Friday-Don’t Burn Yourself Out Doing The Impossible! « Simply Etta D.

  6. Oh Debbie, I love this post so much. We all get caught up in our own dramas don’t we? But you’re right, it’s so important to laugh and loosen up, to let go and not take ourselves too seriously. Thank you for the wonderful reminder to let our inner child free. Loved the video too. Big hugs and love to you xo 💖

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Oh Miriam, thank you! I’m so glad you liked the post. My inner child thinks you are amazing. 🙂 🙂 And thanks also for your contribution to Forgiving Fridays…. you are welcome to contribute your sharing anytime. It brightens up my whole day! Love to you Miriam and big hugs from across the pond. Blessings, Debbie ps – keep smilin’ 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  8. Pingback: Life Pulse | Infinite Living

    1. I love that DeB “Do your best and let God do the rest.” 🙂 My spiritual path is about seeing the Good and leaving the rest to God. Thank you DeB for your awesome contributions and for your presence on my blog. You are beautiful. Blessings, Debbie

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Frank! I like that Hafiz poem too. Funny, because after that video, I have had a number of situations in my life to really test how good I am at letting go of seriosity. 🙂 Sending you blessings, and thanks for that ode & all your contributions for Forgiving Fridays. They are enlivening. Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. Absolutely LOVE the Hafiz poem! My current favourite affirmation is I LOVE MYSELF. So sweet, simple and very powerful. Wishing you lots of fun today!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Anne, I thought you’d love the Hafiz poem. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Isn’t it great? I love love love your affirmation – short sweet fun and powerful. Wishing you much joy, lightness, fun and love today my friend. God bless you Anne, so glad you’re here. Love and Light, Debbie

      Like

      Reply
  12. Pingback: Transformation: Autumn 2 – What's (in) the picture?

    1. Xenia thank you!! So glad you enjoyed the laugh and the Hafiz poem. 🙂 Hope you had a gorgeous light-filled weekend with Elvor and Pearl. Sending you many blessings for a gorgeous week. Thanks again for your wonderful contributions. They bring me such joy for Forgiving Fridays. Love and Light, Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Oh Elsie, I completely love it! Thank you for sharing with my readers. I’d love to add this to my update for #ForgivingFridays next week – what a blessing to share if ok by you. ❤

      If yes, please just add a pingback to this Forgiving Fridays post to your blog & include #ForgivingFridays in your tags.

      Again, thank you. A topic near and dear to my heart and so much on accepting and loving the beautiful beings we are. Bless you Elsie.
      Love and Light, Debbie xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  16. Many women are so hard on themselves, including me. Sometimes I look in the mirror and don’t know who I am but most of the time I look with tenderness, love and forgiveness. Thanks for posting inspirational food for us to absorb and learn from. Blessings to you, Debbie. 💕😁🌈

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Oh Mary, this is such a profound comment, all of it. I am so glad that you see yourself with love and tenderness, and forgiveness. Happy this post was valuable for you. Thank you for being here, Mary – and for sharing your wisdom and your caring. Lots of love, hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Blessings, Debbie ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. Pingback: Singapore Street Art… – a mindful traveller

    1. Frank, that is so true. I don’t think I’d thought of it quite that way — about the serious aspects of life holding us back from achieving true acceptance of ourselves. I really love that. Thank you. 🙂 Blessings to you and your wife.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  20. Pingback: DeBorah & Stephen Holiday Soulful Strut – Roaming Urban Gypsy
  21. Pingback: Grand Central Terminal Holiday Market, Model Train Exhibit Plus Lord & Taylor Holiday Window Display – Roaming Urban Gypsy
  22. Pingback: Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round Up 84 – Dutch goes the Photo!

  23. This is a wonderful post, we can learn a lot from kids.

    Your blog (as a whole) is powerful and inspiring with the forgiveness message. I’ll try to drop by now and again to get inspired!

    Like

    Reply
  24. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Transformation
  25. Pingback: The Sound of Sense – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

  26. This is nice. Forgiving Fridays…. I will look at this more often Debbie. I am someone who lives life and loves life and realizes that we need to breath and enjoy. Thanks for stopping by my place too. Forgiveness.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I am so happy you’re here and that we found each other’s blog! 🙂 You are so welcome.

      And you are also welcome to contribute anytime to Forgiving Fridays. Just do a post that inspires you to forgive, or where you explore forgiveness, or a quality related to it! Include a pingback to this post (https://forgivingconnects.com/2017/11/24/todays-forgiving-fridays-freedom-and-forgiveness/), as well as #ForgivingFridays in your tags. I’d be happy to add your contribution.

      Sending you blessings, hope all is well.
      Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  27. Thank you for sharing. As someone who also has an eating disorder, I can relate to needing to work on enjoying food more and being forgiving with my body and myself. So glad you could enjoy the pie! It is definitely a work in progress, as you say, but I also was able to be truly thankful and enjoy myself on Thanksgiving and also eat pie.
    Also, I love the poem by Hafiz!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m really glad you’re here. 🙂 You’re welcome to share for Forgiving Fridays anytime. Sending you many blessings, and yay for your enjoyment of Thanksgiving.
      Pleasure to meet you, going to visit your blog now!
      Blessings,
      Debbie

      Like

      Reply

    1. Oh Ali, thank you! You put a smile on my ace. 🙂 It takes one to know one, my fellow friend light bearer.

      You are welcome to contribute to Forgiving Fridays anytime you are inspired. I love your work, and you are great Ali. Thanks for visiting. So glad you did.
      Blessings, Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  29. Love the thought of “tripping over Joy” Debbie!! Lovely thoughtful poem. And it looks like a perfect day at the park! Isn’t it good to get out??! I do park walks a couple times a week too… And– how was your Thanksgiving??! Where did you go? Who did you spend it with?? Thanks for all you post! xox

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. You are a sweetheart, Rhonda, thank you! I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Spent it quietly with my partner, it was sacred, beautiful, and fun. ❤ I almost went to a peace ranch to visit a bunch of friends and decided to spend it more quietly. Hope you are well – I saw your Thanksgiving photos and blog, and you with your family is so uplifting! You brighten my day. Blessings, my friend xo Debbie

      Like

      Reply
  30. Pingback: Tanka: Acceptance – whippetwisdom.com

    1. I got it and LOVE it! Even before I clicked on the link, I knew that your tanka was full of lightness, joy and laughter. Gorgeous post, and Elvor and Pearl look magnificent. Will share this tomorrow – thank you so much Xenia! Love and Light to you, and your exqusitive pups. Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  32. Oh, Debbie, I can feel the joy in this post and in the words of Hafiz, yes, it’s time to let go of our serious selves, enjoy our pumpkin pie and embrace the beautiful messiness that comes with being human – your post has left me smiling today, thank you for sharing your light with us once again!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Oh I am so happy to hear it! You are a bright light on my blog, thank you for commenting.
      If you ever want to do a free session on forgiveness, I’d be honored. ❤
      Email me if you'd like more info (weloveyou@forgivingconnects.com)
      In the meantime, I invite and encourage you to keep on forgiving.
      So glad you're here,
      Blessings, Debbie

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  33. Pingback: Phenomenal Friday-Taking Advantage of The Silence! « Simply Etta D.
  37. Pingback: Transformation: Autumn 2 | What's (in) the Picture?

Leave a comment