For those of you who enjoy “memes” in your post, journals, blogs and emails, here is one to help you let go of current guilt for past actions:
THE FORGIVENESS MEME
We’ve all done things we regret that resulted in hurting others, either directly or indirectly. Or we hurt ourselves. The Forgiveness Meme lets you state publicly (or privately) what you did, how you felt about it and provides a way for those who know you to offer acceptance and forgiveness for the action. Once you have been forgiven, either directly or by proxy, let the guilt go and be free of it. Then your friends and random strangers can decide whether you are sincere and whether they will forgive you or not, and possibly provide feedback and support. Just answer these three questions:
1) WHAT I DID:
2) HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT:
3) DO I WANT TO BE FORGIVEN?
That’s it!
I’ll start it off with my own personal version:
1) WHAT I DID:
Dumped my old g/f because another cute girl showed interest in me, and I wondered what it would be like to go out with them. I was a dumb kid, and it was done honestly and straightforwardly, but I still feel bad about it, even years later.
2) HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT:
Over a decade later and I still feel it was the cruelest thing I’ve done to another person. She loved me and I hurt her greatly at the time for no good reason other than curiosity.
3) DO I WANT TO BE FORGIVEN?
Yes.