Forgive the younger you

There’s a younger you who said the wrong thing, stayed too long, left too soon, believed the wrong person, or went quiet when they needed to speak. You still carry their case file.

They weren’t trying to ruin your future. They were trying to get through a room with the tools they had. First light on a field doesn’t blame the night that came before it.

Forgiveness here isn’t a story that the past was fine. It’s putting the gavel down. You can tell the truth and still stop the sentence.

If you meet that younger face in your mind tonight, try: I see you. I am the older one now. You can rest.