Over the past 21 days, I’ve been a participant in Deepak Chopra’s and Oprah Winfrey’s 21 Day  Meditation Challenge. Me? Slow down for 15 minutes EVERY DAY? To meditate? A first on all accounts I can guarantee that! And now, I completely understand why meditation is called a “practice.” Whether it’s rehearsing scales on the piano, mastering a tennis swing or stretching that downward dog in yoga, practice is what makes the artform come alive…and I’ve got a LONG way to go!

One of the pieces of insight I’ve absorbed over these past 21 days of focused attention, inner awareness and enlightened awakenings is the freedom found in forgiveness. Oprah recites in one of the audio messages that forgiveness is “giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.” I couldn’t agree more! I also believe forgiveness of others AND especially of ourselves is the the highest act of letting go. When we reach this level we unburden ourselves from the past and discover the true freedom of the present.

Forgive and release the unworthy convenience and create freedom of time.
Forgive and release the unhealthy distraction and create freedom of mind. 

Forgive and release the unclear connection and create freedom of voice.
Forgive and release the unavailable desire and create freedom of choice.

Forgive and release the untrustworthy ache and create freedom of heart.
Forgive and release the unrealized potential and create freedom of art.

Where we find forgiveness, we find freedom.

The path is in the letting go.