Learning the incredibly helpful skill of forgetting
I learned something great from a friend. After fights, she’d forget that we fought.
I used to think she was acting. Then I realized she really did forget. I grew up in a house where people held on to positions and grudges. I didn’t believe people actually forgave and forgot.
Then I observed her. Like Roger Bannister’s breaking the four-minute mile helped others see they could do it too, observing her ability to forget enabled me to forget too.
I’m amazed at some of the arguments and positions I’ve been able to forget. I’ve learned to stop accounting for many favors, loans, and other forms of credit between friends and my relationships have improved for it.
More importantly, I’m amazed at how much forgetting stupid stuff improves my life. It’s probably taken as much crap out of my life as my everybody gets fifteen minutes rule.
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