Clean Slate

I've decided I need a do-over. Ever feel that way? Like it's just time to wipe the board and start fresh? The past 6 months have been teaching me that very lesson. Sometimes, we just struggle to give ourselves permission to forgive and forget ... especially when we need to forgive ourselves.

We are all imperfect, flawed, in need of praise, reassurance, love ... When we slip into sadness, self-pity, remorse, sometimes we need to forgive our "stinking thinking" and just move on. So today, I forgive myself.

• I forgive myself for turning to others when I was supposed to turn to God.
• I forgive myself for, in those times when God gave me the go-ahead to turn to others, turning to people who would only hurt the situation rather than turning to those who would help. What I did is tantamount to gossip and is wholly unproductive.
• I forgive myself for the days when I allowed myself to sink into the recliner with the remote in hand instead of handling issues that needed handling.
• I forgive myself for the moments when I allowed myself to be overwhelmed by circumstance.
• I forgive myself for the days when I ignored reason and ate piles of Little Debbie snacks, potato chips, and the like, knowing they weren't really what I was craving.
• I forgive myself for being too hard on myself and others.

In addition to forgiveness, of course, I also allow that I will be changing my ways.  In fact, I already am.  I started my day today with a quick prayer before my feet even hit the floor.  Then I started picking up.  I have done some laundry, sorted through some paperwork, and answered some correspondence.  I had string cheese for breakfast instead of buttered toast with strawberry preserves.  I chose tea instead of soda.

Will I mess up?  Of course I will.  We all do.  However, I know that I can always step back up on course.  How about you?  What could you do with a clean slate?  Why not find out?