As a counselor, I’ve sat with countless stories of pain—narratives shaped by shame, resentment, betrayal, and deep wounds that refuse to fade. I’ve also witnessed something else: the quiet, often fragile, miracle of letting go.

Letting go is not weakness. It’s not pretending. It’s power. It is reclaiming the space within us that has been held hostage by pain. It is the choice to stop carrying what was never ours to bear.

Forgiveness is part of that journey. Not because others always deserve it—but because we deserve peace. It’s the path by which we release ourselves from the weight of bitterness, and dare to believe we’re worthy of something good.

This is not easy work. It asks us to see others beyond their harm, to see ourselves beyond our mistakes. It asks us to choose love—again and again—despite how much we’ve suffered.

But I believe we can do this. Not perfectly, but courageously. For ourselves. For each other. For the world we’re still capable of healing.