It’s almost Valentine’s Day. There are roses and chocolates everywhere. There are thoughts of love, who we love, what love means, how to put love into action.

I’m meditating on Forgiveness. Sometimes I like to break words apart and think about what those pieces mean to me. We’ll start with FOR and when it’s in this word, I understand it to mean moving forward. In order to move past an incident or negative feeling or even self-imposed stagnant energy, it is necessary to take action. Just taking a step moves us closer to courage and the fullness of who we really are.

The second piece is GIVE. Not only are we giving freedom to the other person or the situation, we are at the same time letting go. We are giving without expectation of return. We are giving to that more compassionate bigger version of our self. We are answering, what can I offer?, what gift can I give? We are moving towards peacefulness. We fully understand that in giving, we become willing to receive. Energetically we are breathing out and breathing in. Our spirit is refreshed.

And NESS to me means this is a practice and a process. Perhaps the moment of forgiving needs to be repeated over and over. Perhaps one act of forgiveness leads to another and another. Most likely one step in this brave direction opens doors we had not even seen before. The universe may rush in to congratulate us. We become one with the inbreath and the outbreath. We inhale freedom. We live in love.

May deeper love invade your heart and home this Valentine’s Day.