Forgiveness.

It’s so difficult for most people – and yet so important for all of us.

Holding on to those negative feelings and thoughts simply eats you up. It creates self-defeating behavior that is very difficult to get past.

I never forgave my father for how he was involved (or lack thereof) in the lives of my sister and me.

Then, in 2013, he died.

My sister had taken on the brunt of his care, doing all for him that he needed, being available when the assisted living facility called.

While I simply worked. I stayed away, did the minimum.

I was angry, unavailable in many ways, frustrated, and wanting things to have been different.

He may not have deserved the forgiveness, but I forgave him anyway.

And I still do.

We all make decisions in life, business, and personal. Those decisions are made by only us.

The difficult part is recognizing where the decisions that we make come from and helping eliminate those self-defeating thoughts and actions.

We all have thoughts that, at one time, may have helped us fight for survival, but today are simply eating us alive, whether we know it or not.

The way we choose to live is our choice.

Who we choose to forgive is also our choice.

Don’t let those feelings take away your power and your ability to be happy.

I have decided I will not allow that any longer.

I forgive you, Dad.

-J.D.