Happy #ForgivingFridays everyone! Yay!
This is a creative prompt for you to write a post on forgiveness, or anything related to that (letting go, taking a risk, being kind, doing service, taking care of yourself, etc.) You can do your post ANY DAY this week!
It can be anything that inspires YOU to forgive, let go, and choose love – even if you’re struggling. e.g.: write a poem, share a quote or video, do an act of kindness, forgive yourself or someone else. 🙂 I look forward to see what you do!
**This is my contribution to Trent’s The Weekly Smile, Sue Vincent’s Thursday challenge and Frank’s Surprise. Thank you!**
Today, I’m present to really letting go from the last few weeks. As many of you know, I moved and then went on a 3 week trip to Israel and Italy.
Coming back to my new place has been quite a shift for me — and in the midst of all that, I’m beginning a coaching school to help me start a new group on Self-forgiveness!
As I’m preparing for this group, the question keeps coming to me, “What can you let go of that would make the biggest difference in your life?” It’s going to be a key theme, so we can all open a space for love. I can tell you what that is for me right now. I moved into a place that’s community living, so we work on teams to take care of the house and to make it beautiful for visitors (I’m in a mansion that has a labyrinth and gardens and people come to partake of the peace here.)
We had a “house meeting” last night to give out jobs and carve pumpkins for team building. 🙂 I introduced myself because I was new to the group. And I didn’t like what came out of my mouth. This is a simple example of a larger pattern, where I judge how I express myself and am concerned about other peoples’ opinions of me.
So for today, I choose to forgive. The way that I do this is by forgiving myself for judging XX – whatever X is. So it’s not so much about needing to forgive myself for what I did, it’s that I judged it in the first place as right or wrong. I call it Self-forgiveness and use the phrase, “I forgive myself for judging….” Here we go (and feel free to join me with whatever Self-forgiveness you have!):
I forgive myself for judging myself as wrong for how I expressed myself in the house meeting.
I forgive myself for judging myself for making other peoples’ opinions more important than honoring myself.
And I forgive myself for judging my mom for her expression and how people reacted to that when I was younger. (As I mentioned in last week’s blog, my mom was mentally ill, and I’m really working through the effects of that on me and how I treat myself.).
I was really surprised that I moved into the home I’m in now. I am beginning to see some of the reasons for that, in the lessons I’m getting on community living, and letting go of judgments I have about myself with all of that. 🙂
I have so much to smile about, because it is an honor to make peace with myself and my relationship with my mom. I’ve worked on this for years, and it’s so fine that stuff keeps coming up. This is just my own next step to open to what love has for me. I wish I could put into this blog how much I’ve experienced love because of Self-forgiveness and my mom. It’s indescribable, really.
What I can say is that it’s like a rock of peace and compassion inside of me. It is my true home.
Anyway, that’s what I have for today. I hope that you take a moment, however you choose to do that, and ask yourself what you can let go of that would make a big difference for you! I did a video with a meditation to help you listen inside for the answer. Click here if you’d like to listen.
Have a blessed weekend!
I love you.
Love,
Debbie
ps = Here’s a photo from David of the gorgeous gardens in the hotel we stayed in Capri, plus a great quote on what happens when we listen to our hearts!!
Credit for photo on left: David Sand via msia.org
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I am SO SO grateful for all of you who contribute to Forgiving Fridays. I learn so much from you! Here are contributions from this week and some from last week too – they were magnificent:
Etta of Simply Etta D. shared her wisdom and great quotes on a true statement, that we always have the power to choose our response to a situation. This is the key to forgiveness!
DeB of Roaming Urban Gypsy contributed a great photo collage of her trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, plus her artwork illustrating the transformation that takes place when we’re creative!
Frank of Poetry, Short Prose and Walking wrote a poem and reflection with such a willingness to forgive and a reminder not to take anything for granted – to really appreciate the small, simple things around us that are so great!
Pragalbha of Infinite Living gave us a creative sharing that illustrates the power of listening to the silence and the incredible joy that comes out of that. Includes an exquisite graphic on the blessings inside!
Emily of Zombie Flamingos took a host of photos at different shutter speeds. What’s especially courageous is that she took all the photos in one go and did something new outside of her comfort zone. Way to go Emily!
AmyRose of Petals Unfolding contributed a beautiful sharing on teaching herself how to be honest and intimate with herself and others. Her first post for Forgiving Fridays – welcome!
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Here are the guidelines of #ForgivingFridays:
- 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!
forgivingconnects.com 
The inner journey of what you describe as a rock of peace and compassion within is truly incredible and remarkable to try and imagine. It is a profound one. You truly inspire each time you share.
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Pragalbha, I’m so glad that my sharing was inspiring for you. Reading your comments is always so heartwarming for me! You have an incredible presence, do you know that? 🙂
Thanks as well for your contribution for this week. Your poetry and reflections add so much to #ForgivingFridays. Hope you have a beautiful rest of your week. Blessings to you.
Love and Light,
Debbie
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Thank you for your ever flowing kindness and beautiful wishes dear Debbie 🙂
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Debbie, I imagine that sharing how you are judging yourself may feel uncomfortable, but your authentic stories will touch other’s lives and give them hope. I don’t know why it is so difficult for humans to love themselves. I know how it has changed my life. It is a worthy pursue to learn what blocks the way so the light can shine in.
Have a marvelous weekend my friend.
Ali
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Ali, this is such an incredibly sweet comment. Thank you. It IS so important to love ourselves, and each step is a blessing and revelation of the sacred. I am so grateful to share this journey on my blog, there’s nothing I’d rather be doing. Keep shining Ali! You are wonderful. ❤
Love and Light,
Debbie
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Sweet Debbie, I love the sound of your new home and how it is serving you. I also love how your Dear Mom made it possible for you to open this amazing ministry of forgiving in service to yourself and the world around you. Wow, there are so many blessings. Wishing you a glorious, Light blessed weekend!
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You said it, Anne! My mom gave me such a rich experience to learn how to embrace all of who I am and share this amazing path of forgiving! It also contributed to getting to meet you once again. I am so grateful for that, and for YOU. Many blessings of joy to you and thanks for being here. I love you, Anne.
Love and Light,
Debbie
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Hi Debbie, lovely post and pictures. The best is the one of you and your smiling face! Thank you for sharing your healing, I am working up to facing the memories I hold of my Mother and while I thought that I have forgiven her, I realize that I am holding onto a bunch of poop. Maybe I do because I don’t want to lose her memory, but gosh I really want to transform the ones that I have to see the light she was and heal what remains in my heart. 🙏
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God, Jordan, I so hear you. Thank you for sharing this! I imagine that you’re exploring some vulnerable feelings with your mom. I am sending much loving to you in this process. Remember that you are never alone, and that the light lives in YOU.
I am thinking of you. ❤ Blessings, Debbie ❤
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Thank you, Debbie ❤️
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You’re welcome! Blessings Jordan.
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Blessings to you as well, Debbie ❤️
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Hello, Debbie, I am on forgiveness’s “winding path” again.
https://revivedwriter.wordpress.com/2018/10/27/the-winding-path/
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This is incredible – I am so touched by your poetry. Forgiveness takes many forms and paths, doesn’t it? 🙂 Keep going! Love this contribution, and blessings to you. ~Debbie
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Debbie, forgiving ourselves is perhaps the most difficult challenge we have within our lives. Your journey regarding forgiveness around your Mom is very similar to mine and to those siblings who contributed to the “madness”. I am so very proud of you for finding the courage to not only go within to do the work, but also as well to publicly write about forgiving yourself. I really understand what it takes to do these things. And about that house …. sounds fascinating! (((HUGS)))
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AmyRose, you are an incredible sweetheart! Thank you for your encouragement. I love how you love forgiveness. 🙂 And, your sharing for #ForgivingFridays is so vulnerable and honest. This is quite a gift to heal and choose love.
I’m receiving your hug and sending you a BIG one back! Blessings, Debbie
ps – Have a wonderful Forgiving Fridays tomorrow and a great weekend.
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Seeing me as a sweetheart must mean you are one. How about that, Debbie! You are very welcome for the encouragement. Oh how I understand how difficult it is to forgive ourselves. Whew! I totally forgot about #ForgivingFridays and could have posted my last post with that tag. It’s all about “What Beauty Is.” May your weekend be filled with Joy, with Love, with Laughter, and with Fun!! 😘😘😘
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I love your thinking, Debbie.
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I missed so much. Italy and Israel. Wow that mush have been amazing.
What a small but big question ““What can you let go of that would make the biggest difference in your life?”
My answer is resentment. Thanks for making me think 🙂
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Oh Lacey, I’m so glad! That’s why I include those questions in case they help people to be more aware inside and in their lives. 🙂 Sending you so much love and Light. Take good care of you!
Debbie
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