Forgive, but never Forget

Forgive and forget… this is a popular line used by lots of people especially when giving advice, but it’s not one that is easily followed, easier said than done as always.

Forgiving someone who has done something hurtful and bad to us is not easy, really not that easy. But it usually can be done, though it may take some time. Even though we’ve forgiven someone for the wrong  things they’ve done, we can never really forget the pain, at least not completely. Our mind can be sharp when it comes to these things. Especially if someone has hurt us BIG time. 
What’s the difference between forgiving and forgetting, anyway? If you’ve forgiven someone, doesn’t it automatically mean that you’re willing to forget everything that happened?  Forgiveness is a process and it may take a long time, some even take forever before the resentment and the anger subsides. Forgiveness means that you choose not to punish that person because of what that person has done to you. But giving forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to forget.
Personally, I have a hard time forgiving and forgetting however I can eventually forgive but can never forget and even if I can, I wouldn't want to. There are so many things that went through my mind thinking bout forgiving those people who have caused me so much pain, For me, Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciliation. Forgiving may somehow release us  from resentment and negative emotions. So I only consider it more as "acceptance" of the things we cannot undo or change.

It’s not a matter of holding a grudge, it’s just that once the damage has been done, it can never be undone. It can be improved and healed, yes, but then again, it can never be undone. In other words, you can forgive the person, but you can’t forget what they did. It will stay with you forever,  just like a wound, it can be healed but the SCARS will remain, but what changes is how you deal with your emotions. Over time, the pain, disappointment and anger may diminish. It will come to a point wherein it becomes just a distant thought with no more emotional impact. Nevertheless, it will enter your mind… someday, you’ll look back… especially during the times in your life when you’re forced to recall it. But then you’re in control. Because it doesn’t affect you like it used to. And this is when you can say that you’re stronger, because of what you’ve been through and because of what you had to endure.That’s why I can say that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with remembering. “Forgive, but never forget“. Now, that’s more like it. Wouldn’t you agree?  

Health Benefits of Steam Baths

Stress and tension is a fairly common occurrence for most people these days. There are occasions when stress can be so overwhelming that you feel like giving up. You can become depressed and when you reach this state it is extremely difficult to motivate yourself to do anything. Your physical and emotional well-being can suffer if you let stress get to you, which is why you have to find a way to let off steam. You need to find something which enables you to release those pent-up emotions and gets you to burn off some energy.One of the things I learned lately is that going to a gym or spa after a hard day's work can really do wonders. I discovered that taking a steam bath/sauna have health benefits beyond just relaxation.

photo from tine_stone of flicker

A good sweat whether it's from a workout or from a steam bath is excellent for healthy skin. Dermatologists understand the benefits of steam to create a beautiful, healthy glow. Serious sweating washes the skin better than soap and water since it unlocks the pores and lets deep-seated grime along with dead cells to be washed out. 


Steam bathing is also an effective treatment in respiratory conditions and is highly recommended for the treatment of the common cold, sinusitis, bronchitis, and asthma (it does apply to me because I'm an asthmatic person). Steam relieves inflammation and congestion of the upper respiratory membranes, It also helps relieves throat irritation by moistening the air. Steam loosens secretions and stimulates discharges of mucous from the throat and lungs. Also, it improves circulation and blood flow, the heat of a steam causes the heart rate to increase and blood vessels to expand that creates cardiovascular workout without having to strain muscles and joints, it is actually the same result we get from mild workout such as brisk walk.

Steam bath also relaxes muscles and relieves the pain due to physical and mental stress, even releasing toxins and free radicals that may allow for better overall health. You may wonder about the difference between sauna and steam bath but there generally is no difference noted between a dry sauna and a wet sauna or a steam bath as the benefit is related to generating enough sweat and heat to detoxify and relax the body.

One of the things I realize in my own life is that no matter how bad a day might have been, taking care of my self makes all the difference in how I feel about who I am. Taking care of my body not only cleanses the outside, but it also refreshes me internally. From my perspective it’s a cleansing of the soul if you will. Taking care of my body reenergizes me from within.


Now that I learned that stress and tension can affect our physical, mental and emotional state, the best way to restore ourselves is to reward ourselves with a hot and relaxing bath.  :)