FORGIVE ME ANY HURTS OR WRONGS INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL----

Say that phrase out loud. Doesn't it feel good? Now say it to someone you care about and who you live with, work with and maybe  have bad feelings with. Then think of all the people you could and maybe should say it to and how you can make it evident even without these specific words.

I write this on Saturday, Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, one of the most holy days in the Jewish religion.  Yom Kippur starts with Rosh Hashanah and lasts 10 days.  The book of Judgment for the past year is opened and you have 
10 days to repent and make right any actions you regret (or are sinful).
Then on Yom Kippur you atone and the book is closed for the year. I have a dear friend who teaches me all things Jewish by how she honors the holidays.
Each year, on Yom Kippur,  we hold hands and ask forgiveness for any hurts or wrongs we may have caused. Takes a moment but is powerful, none the less.

I love this festival and holy day.  It involves looking back, repenting--acknowledging wrongs and then atonement--making things right. And then having a clean page for the new year. It is a profound cleansing process.

We, in America, tend to think that an apology does the trick with no need for atonement.  We love a good apology. Think instead  about making it right. That's where powerful humility starts.  

Think of all the people you would like to hear say this phrase, "Forgive me for any hurts or wrongs intentional or unintentional" and who you would love to see and hear say them.  I would like to see the UN representatives speaking each to one another solemnly saying these words.  Join me in imagining it, conjuring it, praying it into being.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!