7. forgive

Share a story where it was very difficult for you to forgive the perpetrator for wronging you, but you did it — you forgave them.

many people don't know this about my life. it's not something i share with just anyone. my grandparents raised me. my mother was into drugs for 20+ years. i used to think she wanted the drugs and boyfriends more than she wanted us. i was bitter and hurt and mean towards her. i used to say all these terrible things about her and i truly believed i felt that way. but deep down..deep deep deep down, i was just hurt and missed my mom. i was tired of having to be mad, i was tired of missing someone who "didn't want me". so i grew up. i was the one telling my sister that tears wouldn't bring her back, she had to want to come back.


when i started my own family, i vowed never to desert my daughter. i knew i would be there for her always. she vowed to get clean when annabelle was born, and it happened..sort of. she relapsed back into that crazy world. i was so mad, and thought i could never understand her choices. i honestly don't understand to this day. but i started trying to figure out why my own mother deserted me. i realized so much in a short time. she did what was best for my sister and i. instead of taking us into her world full of drugs and insane things, she left us somewhere she felt was safe. with people who would raise us and take care of us no matter what.

it was really hard for me to stomach this truth. it took a long time for me to understand her side of things. it took a long time for me to forgive her. but i finally did. i wont ever forget what happened because it taught me a LOT about myself. but i hope she knows i really have forgiven her.