my strictly personal, non-religious definition of forgiveness is, "letting go of the bitterness." i am not absolving criminals nor inviting them to dinner. i am **simply** letting go of the bitterness which gives the trauma the power to control my life. the words are far more simple than working the process, but? ? ? different thread. . .

forgiving the meanest of my perpetrators feels like child's play next to self-forgiveness. i still haven't fully forgiven myself for having had such a miserable childhood, much less for the psycho-ticks i came of age with. during this morning's meditations, i bumped into the notion that forgiving others is practicing up for the much stickier task of self-forgiveness.

am i making sense? thoughts? reality checks? experience? unsolicited advice? platitudes?