I think I’ve forgiven people that haven’t deserved it. But I’m okay with that. I’m okay with that because my heart doesn’t hurt any longer. Because there’s no bitterness hidden deep in my chest. Because pain is only temporary, and I have chosen happiness. Because forgiveness taught me that I am…
Catalog
Marisa Donnelly
Marisa Donnelly graduated Summa Cum Laude from Waldorf University in May 2015 with a B.S. in Secondary English Education, a B.A. in English, and a B.A. in Creative Writing with endorsements in Secondary Reading and Coaching. She is a Midwest-born, West Coast-based writer, poet, essayist and licensed teacher working as a full-time Staff Writer and Editor/Producer for Thought & Expression Co.
I learned to love forgiveness. I learned that granting it gave me healing, that asking for it gave me humility and strength. I learned that we are all sinners, all a little broken, all looking for something to help us back on our feet again, all looking for someone to say that we’re doing alright,…
Forgiveness has always felt like the most beautiful second chance. Like the answer to a prayer you didn’t know you were asking. Like freedom in a way you never imagined. Like a burden finally lifted from your tired shoulders.
Forgiveness builds you. It builds you because it helps you erase negativity and instead embrace the good that’s all around you. Forgiveness blesses you. Forgiveness rescues you. Forgiveness strengthens you because it makes your heart a powerful weapon. In forgiving, you help the one that has hurt…
Forgiveness is one of those things that allows you to move forward. It allows you to grow. It allows you to no longer be affected by what has happened to you, and instead allows you to focus on things that make you happy.
The truth about forgiveness is that it sets your heart free.
For some reason we think that having a guarded heart is strong. We believe that letting people in, that letting go is weak. But the truth is, learning to trust, to open, to forgive, and to release your pain—those are the strongest things you can do.
The truth about being a strong woman is that the world sees us as a threat. We’re just ‘too much,’ ‘too intimidating,’ too ‘jaded’ and ‘miserable’ and ‘bitter’. But we are none of those things. We are women with backbones. Women who aren’t afraid to be proud of ourselves in a world that might not…
Strong women are the best women to love. We are the women with fierce compassion. We know who we are and we are not afraid to embrace that. We love whole-heartedly because we love ourselves. And we are not only looking to better ourselves, but our partners, our worlds.
To be a strong woman simply means that I am grounded and confident in who I am.
Here is what being a strong woman means to me: It means standing up for myself. It means that I am a fully-functioning human, one who is independent and able to do things for herself. It means that I have opinions and beliefs that I stand for, and that I do not settle for less.
Sweetie, I can stand on my own. You can’t carry me, but you can walk beside me. I know you want to save me, but I don’t need any saving.
I fought back against what I didn’t agree with, I let my voice be heard and my heart sing out. I fell in love. I fell out. I pursued things that ignited my soul. I chased people and passions that made me feel whole. I became. And I love who I am now.
I was born with a voice. I was born with two legs. I was born from a father who taught me yell, to run, to kick. And a mother who showed me how to draw, to sketch, to dream. I learned young that to be myself, I must be fearless. I must be fierce. I must be passionate and driven and bold. I learned…
Though the world may be pulling you down today, though you can’t lift the shadow from your eyes, though you are scared of the future, though you are broken, you are not weak. So close your eyes, take a deep breath, and silently remind yourself of the person you are, of your incredible strength, and…
You are not weak. You do not need to be taken care of. You do not need pity, or gentleness, or someone to carry you, or to hold your hand. You have the strength to stand on your own, the confidence to rebuild, the passion to continue, and the love to forgive.
You may be broken right now, but it will get better. You may be broken right now, but you are not weak.
But this is what you do when you are broken. You pick yourself up, piece by piece. You re-learn the strongest parts of yourself and fight until you break through. You drag yourself forward until your limbs can hold your weight, then you learn to stand up, to walk, to smile again.