Celebrate Global Forgiveness Day Every July 7
July 7 is a day to let go of anger, hurt and resentment. Forgive whoever has hurt or wronged you and move on. It’s Global Forgiveness Day.
The Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassadors (CECA) founded this day in 1994, by putting up a banner in Victoria, British Columbia proclaiming a National Forgiveness Day.
The original date for the observation was August 27, but it has since been moved the July 7 every year. And since it has grown so much, it is also now called Global Forgiveness Day.
How Can I Forgive Such a Terrible Betrayal?
Yes, it can be hard to forgive. Especially for serious hurts. The kind we call unforgivable. It feels like we’re letting the other person off the hook.
Like he or she is “getting away with it.”
But there’s another way to look at it.
Forgiveness is all about you. It’s about kicking the other person out of your head. Not letting him or her occupy another second of your thoughts.
Because anyone who has hurt you that badly doesn’t deserve space in your head or a single second of your time.
Whether you forgive or not rarely has much if any effect on the other person. Often he or she has long ago moved on and doesn’t know or even care that you’re still carrying so much hate or anger.
The only life you’re affecting is your own (and maybe others who love you and don’t want to see you hurting).
So really forgiveness is selfish! But a good kind of selfish.
Now you can focus on things that make you happy. Other people who make you happy. And that will make those who love you happy.
For smaller hurts you may even be able to be friends with the person again. But even if that’s not possible, forgiving will make you freer. So do it for yourself.
Also, studies suggest that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who don’t. If you’re interested, read more about The New Science of Forgiveness here.
You may also be interested in:
- Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go, by Adam Hamilton
- Forgiveness: 21 Days to Forgive Everyone for Everything, by Iyanla Vanzant
- Forgiveness is a Choice: A Step-by-Step Process for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope, by Robert D. Enright
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial forgiving holiday.
Celebrating Global Forgiveness Day
One word: Forgive.
Forgive others and forgive yourself.
And if you’re the one who has upset someone else, ask for forgiveness. It might be just what the other person needs to be able to forgive you.
Other Forgiveness Days
Not quite ready to forgive today?
It’s ok. You’ll have another chance on the first Sunday in August, for International Forgiveness Day. The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance founded that day, dedicating it “to evoking the healing power of forgiveness worldwide.”
There’s also Forgive Mom and Dad Day in March.
If you’re Jewish, Yom Kippur is another chance for practicing atonement or forgiving.
And for Christians, remember “Forgiveness Sunday” is the first Sunday before Lent.
And remember one more thing: Forgiving is not the same as forgetting. You can forgive while still remembering what happened to prevent it from happening again. Once you forgive, you can stop stewing over the situation. You’ll be able to think about it rationally, without getting angry.
Will you be forgiving someone today?
[…] Global Forgiveness Day: For this day we forgive. Yes, even the unforgivable. Because forgiving doesn’t have to mean forgetting. And forgiving let’s you move on and be happy instead of being stuck in the past. […]