Subject: Forgiveness: The Power To Change Lives
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Welcome to Celebrating the Journey!
Friday, May 31, 2002
Issue #96
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Welcome Notes
2. Forgiveness: The Power To Change Lives
3. Coaching: Good Wishes Begin Forgiveness
4. Quotes
5. Resources for the Journey
6. Correction
7. Celebrating Out Loud!
8. Humor: The Penis Talks
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1. Welcome Notes
Welcome to our new subscribers and warm – or
should I say hot – greetings to our CTJ family. I write
from St. George, Utah where it is 104 degrees outside.
I am here at Red Mountain Adventure Spa reveling in
the glory of the exquisite red rock formations which
surround the site and in the opportunity to hike in
that rock every day. This is a great, affordable place
to pamper oneself, go hiking as often as you like,
exercise in lots of different ways (or simply sit by the
pool!), eat healthy food, and revitalize yourself. They
have a great website at
http://www.redmountainspa.com. If you do decide
to book a visit, please mention my name. They have a
great referral program that will benefit us both!
As I mentioned last week, I am on a Great Adventure
this summer, filled with lots of different activities that
make my heart sing. I am making some journal
entries about this summer journey at
https://www.tothesummit.com/adventures2002.html
I invite you to visit and read about some of my more
memorable experiences. There’s a new entry today,
so take a look!
If you’d like a copy of my summer itinerary, send an
e-mail to mailto:adventures@tothesummit.com.
Your own summer adventures are a great thing to
celebrate. Share them with us so we can celebrate
with you by e-mailing
mailto:celebrations@tothesummit.com.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing on this
late spring day, bring a sense of adventure to it – even
if it seems filled with everyday events. Remember –
adventure is an attitude. And above all – ENJOY!
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2. Forgiveness: The Power To Change Lives
In response to our request for topic ideas Luann
Moore writes:
“I am struggling right now with the issue of
forgiveness in my life. I am curious, what is your
definition of forgiveness? Of someone else? Of
oneself? Is there any difference?”
The issue of forgiveness is such an important one for
all of us. Forgiveness, for me, is unhooking myself
from being angry and resentful at another
person or at myself.
I used to think that forgiving someone meant that I
was condoning what they had done, that I was
saying, “Well, what you did doesn’t really matter. It ‘s
okay, I forgive you.” That isn’t it at all. To forgive
someone does NOT mean that what they did was
okay. It does NOT mean we have to allow them back
in our lives.
It DOES mean that what they did or who they are is
not taking up space in our heads and hearts and lives
anymore. And that is the point.
Forgiveness is for us, not for the person we are
forgiving. Holding onto a resentment harms us, not
the person we are resenting. Forgiving them benefits
us individually and our entire planet communally.
Forgiveness is a defining human activity which holds
the power to transform our minds, our hearts, and
our lives. Choosing to forgive affects both you and
the energy of the planet in deeply healing ways.
Forgiveness and healing and adding to peace or
resentment and pain and adding to hostility? The choice is yours.
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3. Coaching: Good Wishes Begin Forgiveness
The simplest action I know to let go of a resentment
and actively forgive someone is to pray for them
every day for two weeks. Pray that they receive
all that you want for yourself, all that they would
want for themselves, all that Spirit (God, Buddha,
Higher Power, Mohammed, etc.) wants for them.
I use the word prayer here because it works for me
and for many people. If prayer is not your style,
simply take the time each day to wish for the person
you want to forgive that they have the life they really
want, the partner they really want, the peace they
really want, all that is in their Highest Good.
Whether it’s a prayer or a wish, make it every day for
two weeks. You will be amazed. This process has
never failed for me even when the last thing I wanted
to do was pray for the person at whom I was angry.
“Do it anyway,” I was told. I did. It worked. The
resentment dissolved. Every time.
With whom are you angry? What resentment is
taking up space in your head? Who would you like to
forgive? Pick a person (most of us have for than one!)
and pray for them – wish for them – every day for the
next two weeks. You will find a new freedom and a
new beginning.
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4. Quotes
When you hold resentment toward another, you are
bound to that person or condition by an emotional
link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only
way to dissolve that link and get free.
Catherine Ponder
Having a resentment is like drinking poison and
expecting someone else to die.
Unknown
This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps
his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and
do well.
Francis Bacon
Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does
enlarge the future.
Paul Boese
If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we
would find in each person’s life sorrow and suffering
enough to disarm all hostility.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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5. Resources for the Journey
I am involved in a workshop called Temenos that is
given in Aspen, Colorado each May and November.
Part of the workshop is a process specifically designed
to allow us to forgive. It is as good an experiential
resource as I know for celebrating and expanding
your journey, in general, and for letting go of anger
and resentment and moving into forgiveness, in
particular. Send an e-mail to
mailto:Temenos@tothesummit.com to find out more.
There are many resources on the internet to support
you in learning about and practicing the art of
forgiveness. Here are a few of the ones I like. They
each cover a number of topics on forgiveness and
contain reading resources and links to other
forgiveness sites. If you’re struggling with forgiving
someone – yourself or another – take a look at these
sites:
http://www.forgivenessweb.com
http://www.forgivenessnet.co.uk
http://www.coachuniverse.com/forgivenessworks
There is a great definition of forgiveness at
http://www.forgiveness-institute.org/ifi/whatis/what_is_forgiveness.html.
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6. Correction!
Last week I included a link on my website which
referenced what I believed to be an address Kurt
Vonnegut made to the graduating seniors at MIT. An
astute CTJ reader informed me that the piece was in
actuality written by a female journalist from Chicago.
I appreciate Jo Cobbett’s letting me know of my error
and apologize to Mr. Vonnegut and to you for the
mistake. The words are no less delightfully wise for
the change in authors, and I still recommend it at
https://www.tothesummit.com/Vonnegut.html
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7. Celebrating Out Loud
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more
there is in life to celebrate.
Oprah Winfrey
Janice Ferrazzoli celebrates 2 completely separate
goodies this week. The first is the puppy who’s been
with her family for a bit over a month now. “What a
fantastic feeling to watch this little bundle of energy
and excitement be so totally enthralled and devoted
to my eleven year old. Pure joy. And she’s a lot of
fun for the rest of us, too! Demands total attention
with no expectations. There’s a lesson in here
somewhere……and I’m sure you’ll find it!” Perhaps
the lesson is the amount of love we find in critters
who have such an exuberant approach to life. How is
your state of exuberance today?
Janice’s second celebration is more cerebral: she
completed – and aced – the Anatomy & Physiology
course that was the biggest concern for her in
returning to school to study Nursing. Bravo to you,
Janice. A big accomplishment! Janice is available for all
celebratory e-mails at mailto:ferrazzoli@hotmail.com.
Share your celebrations with us – big or small,
heartful and/or cerebral, animal or human. We all
benefit when celebrations of any kind are shared. E-
ail yours to mailto:celebrations@tothesummit.com
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8. Humor: The Penis Talks
This piece was sent to me by my good friend Suzon
Lommel. My hope is that you will read it in the
lighthearted spirit in which it was written. Enjoy!
Dear Management:
I, the Penis, hereby request a raise in salary for the
following reasons:
I do physical labor.
I work at great depths.
I plunge head first into everything I do.
I do not get weekends or public holidays off.
I work in a damp environment.
I don’t get paid overtime.
I work in a dark workplace that has poor ventilation.
I work in high temperatures.
My work exposes me to contagious diseases.
Thank you for your consideration.
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Dear Penis,
After assessing your request, and considering the
arguments you have raised, the administration rejects
your request for the following reasons:
You do not work 8 hours straight.
You fall asleep on the job after brief work periods.
You do not always follow the orders of the
management team.
You do not stay in your designated area and
are often seen visiting other locations.
You do not take initiative; you need to be pressured
and stimulated in order to start working.
You leave the workplace rather messy at the end of
your shift.
You don’t always observe necessary safety
regulations, such as wearing the correct protective
clothing.
You will retire well before you are 65.
You are unable to work double shifts.
You sometimes leave your designated work before
you have completed the assigned task.
And if that were not all, you have been seen
constantly entering and exiting the workplace
carrying two suspicious looking bags.
Sincerely,
The Management
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Give yourself the gift of forgiveness this week.
Namaste, Margo
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Hiring a Life Coach is a great way to be supported in
taking the steps that will lead you to your own
dreams. Margo has a few slots open for motivated
clients who want to shift from, “I like my life, to, “I
love my life!!!” Visit our website at
https://www.tothesummit.com for additional
resources and tools. To schedule a consultation, send
an e-mail to mailto:margo@tothesummit.com
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If you received this copy of Celebrating the Journey
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My purpose in publishing Celebrating the Journey is
to provide you with resources, motivation,
inspiration and energy for YOUR journey of creating
success and freedom in all areas of your life. CTJ will
use stories from my life and others, coaching tips and
resources, quotes and humor to deliver a learning
experience that can enhance your life. I am always
looking for comments, ideas and ways to improve
CTJ. I welcome your e-mails at
mailto:margo@tothesummit.com.
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Copyright © 2002, all rights reserved, by Margo
Chisholm
I invite you to share Celebrating the Journey with
your mailing list, friends, and associates. We ask only
that the entire e-mail with copyright and credits be
included. The author of this article is Margo
Chisholm. You may contact her at (970-704-9336) or
at mailto:margo@tothesummit.com.
—
Come to the edge, life said.
They said: We are afraid.
Come to the edge, life said.
They came.
It pushed them…
And they flew.
Gulliaume Apollinaire
Margo Chisholm
Life Coach, Life Counselor
Partnering you in having success, freedom, and
joy in all areas of your life.
970-704-9336
margo@tothesummit.com
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