Today’s Forgiving Fridays: Taking a Chance on Peace

Posted on by Forgiving Connects

Happy #ForgivingFridays everyone! Yay! This is an opportunity for you to let go and forgive & post about it ANY DAY this week! See guidelines below. ❤ You can post whatever inspires YOU to forgive and choose love – even if you’re struggling.  e.g., you can do something to choose peace inside  like I did, or share a poem, or a quote or two, or even sing a song to help you forgive today.

Today’s Forgiving Fridays is taking a chance on peace!

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog on my goal of speaking at the U.N., and to have an International Day of Forgiveness there.

Since then, I’ve read the newspaper and saw shootings, political strife, terrorist attacks, and more.  I also had a really painful personal situation, where I made a mistake with people that I love and it touched into a really raw place inside.

All of this to say, I could play the victim.  I could judge myself for the mistake that I made.  I could say it was someone else’s fault. I could blame others for the violence I read about, and experienced first-hand with my own mom’s murder.

The truth is, though, peace starts inside of me.  If I want world peace, I need to choose love inside of me.  I need to forgive myself for any judgments of myself and everyone else involved, right where I am.  That is a key step to peace, to treat myself and others with loving and respect.

So here I go:

That mistake this week was so hard for me. Wow I felt so incapable, and ashamed.  And it’s not the first time I’ve felt this way.  This time when I started feeling ashamed, I let myself have it and fully experience it, and I held myself in love. I was aware as I began to be hard on myself that I could do that, or I could choose to love myself.  I choose love.  I’d like to do a little more Self-forgiveness.

I forgive myself for judging myself for making a mistake, and for all the shame I felt about it. I forgive myself for judging the other people involved as wrong.

I breathe in this forgiveness, and I take it in to all the places inside that hurt.

The truth is, I am incredibly capable and learning every day. I am doing the best I can with what I know and so is everyone else.  I’m going for excellence, not perfection. 🙂

With judgments about what’s happening with the world, how about this?  Today, I’d like to ask a simple question, “What would love do?”

I don’t have all the answers.  What I do know is when I ask that question, I experience my own compassion.  And I am building it inside each time I forgive myself and other people. Each time I love myself. Each time I let go of a judgment. I carry that compassion wherever I go – it helps me to treat each person with empathy and respect.  That’s a good start.

A few years ago, the NY Times ran an article on how important self-compassion is. (Click here to read) What if when we read the paper each day, we see more and more articles like this?  On Self-forgiveness and being really good to ourselves?  On people reaching out a hand to each other in peace?

I have a vision of a world where each of us treats each other with kindness and caring, because we are living it inside.  It just takes one connection at a time.

For today, I love me.  I really do.  I am my favorite place.

 

Last week, I ended this blog by saying my name and I forgive.  Today, I’d like to add:

My name is Debbie Roth, and I am a place of peace. ❤

***

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 a powerful and beautiful post with 8 tips when you’re down. Each one has a powerful message to honor our Selves and heart-felt dreams.  So true, Etta!!

DeBorah of Roaming Urban Gypsy shared a photo collage of her gorgeous cat, Sylvester – they are full of love. Art- and cats – are two wonderful ways to open our hearts & to the gift of forgiveness!

Frank of Poetry, Short Prose and Walking  opened up to forgiveness for a teacher who wasn’t patient and encouraging when he was in third grade.  His photos are beautiful, as is his empathy for the impatient teacher.  Such room for forgiveness in his compassion!

Pragalbha of Infinite Living wrote a poem that gives us a beautiful dance of accepting and honoring the true beauty of our own face. It’s a place where forgiveness resides!

Lorelle of A Mindful Traveler shared a postcard from a fellow blogger that she received right when she needed it most.  What an example of caring and the value of small kindnesses!

Anita of Healing Words gave us beautiful excerpt from her new book (yay) on her experience with non-judgment and acceptance of people different than her.  A first-time contributor – welcome!

Miriam of Out An’ About took time away to camp in nature and wrote about the blessings of slowing down and embracing where we are – with wonderful photos and video to illustrate. Thank you Miriam!

And in case you missed it from last week: 🙂

Revived Writer also contributed a poem on a wonderful Super Hero – our heart.  What better super hero that keeps us alive and has the courage to forgive and open after times of hurt. So creative!

Bernice of SpiritualJourney17 wrote a gorgeous prayer for our day. It’s full of kindness, caring, patience, and gratitude.  Bernice, thank you for blessing each of us!

****

I’d like to end with a poem I wrote for my coaching clients, and I am really learning to live into it more with myself.  See below.

Letting Go of a Big Judgment March 23 2018

Who is it that says the eyes are the window to the Soul?

Here’s a photo of where I used to live – this was my view from my window.  Looks like eyes that see love. 🙂

I love you.

Love, Debbie

***This post is my contribution for The Daily Post’s Favorite Place and Frank’s Challenge, Place. Frank, I really enjoyed doing this post – it brought me back to a vision I have of peace for this planet – and it starts with me being a place of peace inside.   Thank you!!***

Here are the guidelines of #ForgivingFridays:  

Falling in Love with Myself Rumi March 23

  • 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 is the poem I wrote for my coaching clients:

Take a Chance on Yourself
 
It is a beautiful
thing; therein
the Forgiveness starts
rolling to the
music, it says,
“Ah Beloved, if you only
knew,
the Beautiy of Your Own
Soul, you would
SMILE,
SMILE, and once again,
SMILE until there was
no more
            H
         U    R
             T
Left.” But you don’t know,
until, one day, you meet
this Coach, + she said,
“Take a chance on your
Self.”
Blessed be this day, to
help you see, the beauty, of
your own face.
-Deborah ❤

 

Forgiving Fridays banner facebook

 

37 thoughts on “Today’s Forgiving Fridays: Taking a Chance on Peace”

    1. Quirky Girl, thank you! It’s so important for us to take a chance on ourselves — we are worth it!! 🙂 And thank you for your amazing posts. Your humor is a highlight to my Fridays. Blessings to you and to your dog too. ~Debbie

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    1. Pragalbha, you are a sweetheart! Thank you. My spiritual mentor John-Roger says something like, Love is the parent of peace. I find that such a beautiful statement.

      Hoping you had a weekend full of love and peace, Pragalbha. 🙂 And thank you again for your contributions for #ForgivingFridays. Each one is sacred.
      Love, Debbie

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      Reply

    1. Andrea, thank you. I love this comment. Radiant, and full of light…what a beautiful vision for my blog!!

      I am grateful you’re here and for your presence and comments. You bring such peace and grace.
      Hope you are doing well, Andrea! ❤ And congrats one more time on the fabulous TedX talk.
      Love, Debbie

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      Reply
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  6. Peace really does start inside ourself however sometimes it’s easier said than done isn’t it Debbie. But you’re doing it, every week when you post about your vulnerabilities (which we can all relate to) you’re spreading that peace within yourself and the world just a little more. Thank you for always sharing of yourself and all these other posts, including my own. Love your poem too Debbie, it’s so from the heart. Sending you love and hugs from a rainy Melbourne. xo 💙

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    1. Miriam, thank you for your encouraging words and the immense love you bring to my blog! You have such a lovely presence of Light — do you know that? 🙂 And you said it, peace starts inside. It is an honor for me to choose into it again and again, even if sometimes it can feel frustrating or hard. What I’m aware of is that compassion and loving hold me and show me how. (Does that make sense to you?)

      Sending you love and hugs too! I hope your week is off to a beautiful start. And that you’re dancing like Charlie Brown and Snoopy in that graphic, it’s one of my favorites. ❤ Lots of love, Miriam.

      Blessings, Debbie
      ps – I love how you're doing videos now too on your blog – so much fun and creativity!

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    1. It sure is, Lorelle! Right now, I’m smiling as I read your comment and write this response. 🙂 Thank you for being here, and for your amazing contributions to #ForgivingFridays! Feel free to share your blog posts anytime. Much gratitude for you. Blessings, Debbie

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  8. Debbie, you have created a possibility of peace by loving yourself. This is not easy. It is an act of courage and forgiveness. Thank you for your continued inspiration. I stand with you by creating peace inside myself today.

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    1. Hi Ali, you are so welcome. And thank YOU for continuing to support my blog with your presence, and the wisdom of your comments and contributions. I get that you stand with me by creating peace inside yourself today. It’s a moment-to-moment choice, isn’t it? You are a blessing to my readers — so glad you’re here.
      Love,
      Debbie

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  12. Debbie, so many times I’ve gone through similar situations and totally beat myself up for it. Now I slow down and breathe. I accept my mistakes and like you, forgive myself and others involved. I love how you said you are doing the best you can with what you know. I really think most people are doing just that…the best they can at the time with the tools they have. After all, we are all human and make mistakes. The important part is what you are doing, reflecting, forgiving and most of all loving yourself and others. Thanks for always giving me inspiration and self esteem topics for me to tackle. I appreciate it and I love your blog. Blessings ❤

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    1. Oh Mary, I’m so glad this post was inspiring and helpful for you! ❤ You bring such brightness to my day, and I'm really grateful for your caring comments. Your presence on my blog is uplifting, and a true gift and blessing!! Have a wonderful Easter, full of acceptance, reflection and forgiveness. Love, Debbie

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      1. Happy Easter to you and yours, Debbie! I truly hope your holiday is uplifting and peaceful. For you deserve it, the way you help and inspire others. With Love, Mary

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  14. Good point: “I’m going for excellence, not perfection.” I often think that excellence is perfection, but what you said made me see this differently. After perfection there is nowhere else to go.

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    1. So true, Frank! I have had lots of feedback on going for excellence, not perfection. It’s a gentler way to live and full of the blessings of learning.

      Thanks for your contributions for #ForgivingFridays — they add so much to my blog posts. Have a great weekend, and happy Easter. 🙂
      Debbie

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