The disciple walked up to the master and asked,  “How can I free myself from what binds me to the past?”
The master got up, went to a tree stump, and clutched onto it, moaning,  “What can I do so that this tree lets go of me?” -  Zen wisdom

How often do we live through our past experiences, especially the painful ones?  Do we carry these memories of regrets, mistakes, or wrongs that others may have done forward into our present thoughts and/or feelings?

As the Zen master stated above, “What can I do so that this tree lets go of me?”  The past is gone forever.  We are choosing to hang on to these memories, it is totally in our control to let them go.  The tree does not bind us to it, nor does the past.

One of the pathways to letting go of our negative past memories is through the process of forgiveness.  This process allows our hearts to open and become more fully self expressed as we experience our humanity.  This is forgiveness of ourselves as well as others.   This journey may seem long but the process is simple and the more forgiveness we are able to express the more love and compassion we are able to feel.

Let’s release all of our negative past memories into the gentleness of forgiveness.   We can begin this new moment in the appreciation of who we are and the many gifts we have to offer others.  Bask in the glow of being alive and able to love and be loved, to value and be valued and to know that we can make a difference in our world.

Celebrate this moment and use it to create a new beginning thus leading to a new future for ourselves and those around us.   Experience the feelings of gratitude for all that we have and all that we are.  This moment belongs to us.   How will we choose to use it?

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