Set Yourself Free

By Healthhungry @Healthhungry
I had some applesauce that needed to be eaten so I thought I'd try it in my morning smoothie, it was pretty darn tasty...
 In the (Vita)mix:
-1/2 frozen banana
-1 scoop protein powder
-1 cup spinach
-3/4 cup chunky applesauce
-1/2 cup almond milk
 Normally, today would be my day to take Mr. Ball to Doggy Daycare and get my grocery shopping done before heading off to teach class.  However, he has been snotty, sneezing, and quite congested over the past 3 days, so I decided to keep him home.  Did you know that dogs get colds?  I pray it is just a cold, and not kennel cough again.  For a cold, the most important thing is to keep him warm and dry - neither of those things would happen at doggy daycare as well - not to mention he runs like a maniac...  Since I have limited groceries until I can get to the store, I grabbed this(Graham bought it for himself, thanks honey!) Odwalla juice.
Clearly the best ingredient is the "double rainbows"!  It was good, but I couldn't help but think I could make something even better tasting, and with fewer calories - good option for on the go, or when I'm out and about.
I've been noticing a theme about anger lately.  I've just noticed little things about the emotion popping up when I'm reading and what not.  Something I saw yesterday said, "Get mad, get as angry as you want, just don't let it turn to resentment."  I immediately wondered if I have resentments.  I think I do.  My resentments are mostly tied to feeling very hurt, disappointed, or wronged by someone else.  Sometimes the someone is an organization, but the common thread is feeling an injustice.  My next thought was, how can I let these resentments go?
It's not something I can get up and "do", it is a process.  For example, when I start to feel angry over something that happened years ago - I wonder what needs to be dealt with.  If I have confronted the issue, or person - then most likely it's a matter of walking myself through forgiveness.  Not necessarily to free that person, but to free my own heart from the pain.
Step One:  Acknowledge the feeling.
Step Two: Ask, what needs to be done to resolve the issue?
Step Three: If it's been dealt with, practice forgiveness.
Step Three is where it gets a little more individual.  For me, I try to say a little prayer for the person.  Usually, it is a person I wouldn't wish harm(in a non-angry state) and so I can wish them best on their journey.  I also find it useful to recognize that they did what they did because of who they are, not because of who I am.  In other words, it really isn't personal - it's their struggle.  If it's their struggle, why am I fighting it for them?  Why am I feeling their feelings, that's their work - and I have my own to do.
Finally, I think of one of my favorite forgiveness quotes, spoken by one of my favorite teachers; Ms. Oprah Winfrey... "Forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past could have been different."  That really speaks to me.  What's been said has been said, what's been done has been done.  Now it's time for our hearts to be free.