|
Obtained from the ASAMS WEBSITE This document was reproduced by ASAMS on its website with permission of its original Author. The Author has made this document available for public access on the strict understanding that the Author holds all Copyrights over this document and only under certain conditions. This document may be stored electronically and/or printed out for personal research and reference purposes ONLY. Any retransmission and/or reproduction for any other reason, whether in part or in whole, by any means, is prohibited unless permission is obtained by the Author. |
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Though life brings adversity, some of it caused by others, our quality of health is affected by how we respond to it. We can nurse resentment over it and think about it often or we can choose to reject the negative thoughts about it and forgive those who hurt us. Forgiveness is soothing balm that benefits not only the forgiven one but most importantly ourselves.
BAGGAGE
One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. to school. For every person we'd refused to forgive in our life experience, we were to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of our bags became quite heavy.
We were then told to carry this bag with us where every where we went for one month, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work. The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying emotionally and physically, and how we had to pay attention to it all the time in order not to forget leaving it in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime.
This was a great metaphor about unforgiveness and negativity. Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, but it is clearly a gift to ourselves.