Yom Forgiveness
I have a vague idea what Yom Kippur is all about, so I'm celebrating my customized version of it today.
The part of the tradition that appeals to me most is the practice of forgiveness. I think forgiveness does not mean skipping problem-solving, or giving tacit approval to anything you don't intend to, or making any kind of sacrifice. I believe an attitude of compassion and cooperation can make negotiating a lot smoother, but to me, the big idea of forgiveness is strictly for the benefit of the forgiver.
Unpleasant emotions such as anger may serve a purpose initially, but I find I hold onto them too long, and they morph into resentment or something else that's painful to me. Those make me feel like I'm squeezing a fistful of sand spurs, and if I just flicked them off, I'd be fine. The trouble is, those spurs are hidden, so I think taking at least this one day a year to root them out will be healthy for me.
The part of the tradition that appeals to me most is the practice of forgiveness. I think forgiveness does not mean skipping problem-solving, or giving tacit approval to anything you don't intend to, or making any kind of sacrifice. I believe an attitude of compassion and cooperation can make negotiating a lot smoother, but to me, the big idea of forgiveness is strictly for the benefit of the forgiver.
Unpleasant emotions such as anger may serve a purpose initially, but I find I hold onto them too long, and they morph into resentment or something else that's painful to me. Those make me feel like I'm squeezing a fistful of sand spurs, and if I just flicked them off, I'd be fine. The trouble is, those spurs are hidden, so I think taking at least this one day a year to root them out will be healthy for me.