In the choice to let go of your

known way of being, the whole

world is revealed to your new eyes.

Forgiveness helps us to Release the Past

Paul Ferrini

 Our Relationships are easily Crippled by their own past Baggage. 

When anger and hurt are carried around, there is an undercurrent of judgment and irritation that surfaces when new challenges arise. 
Even little problems become major issues.

 The air needs to be cleared. The burden of past misunderstandings needs to be laid to rest.

 Forgiveness is not so much a doing as it is an undoing. It enables us to undo blame and guilt.  It wipes the slate clean of resentment. 

Forgiveness enables us to start a fresh with each other, so that we don't have to keep carrying the baggage of the past around with us. 

Warrior

 By Domenic Tamborriello

You who believe in sunrises

You whose hand somehow insists

On reaching for the roulette wheel

You in whose face door after door has slammed

Yet stand again

In front of this unmarked one

You who have failed yourself

More times than there are true numbers

You who have sought the counterfeit solace of numbness

You whose feet are bloodied and bruised

From crossing the cruel terrain

Of lies and self-deception

You whose face

Has been slashed by words

You whose mouth still tastes

The bitterness of betrayal

You whose eyes have been fed cruelty

Yet still find beauty,

I salute you.

You who are wiser than rain

You who kiss the wounded

As you would kiss your child

You who sing because you must

You who believe in believing

You so heartbreakingly perfectly imperfect,

I salute you.

You are a flag to the rest of us.

You shall be known

By your true name

And your true spirit.

I salute you

Domenic Tamborriello is a clinical social worker in private practice in Ann Arbor, MI. He runs poetry therapy groups as an integral part of his counseling practice and is committed to helping others find their most authentic voices. He can be reached at domtmsw@cs.com