Letting Go of the Invisible Bill

I carried a grudge against someone for three years. Every time I saw their name, my stomach would do a somersault of pure annoyance. I felt like they owed me something—an apology, a recognition of how they’d hurt me, a 'bill' that needed to be paid. But the truth is, they were living their life while I was the one stuck with the receipt. Forgiveness is often described as a gift to the other person, but it’s actually the ultimate act of kindness toward yourself.

In 2025, we are obsessed with 'closure.' We think we need to have a final, dramatic conversation to move on. But often, closure is just a DIY project. It’s the decision to stop waiting for someone to change who they were in the past. Kindness means letting go of the hope for a better yesterday. It means releasing the anger that is currently taking up space in your heart that could be used for something far more beautiful. It’s a literal weight off your shoulders.

National Kindness Week 2026 is the perfect time to audit your heart. Who are you still holding a bill for? Is the resentment actually serving you, or is it just making you bitter? Kindness toward yourself means refusing to let someone else’s past mistakes control your present peace. It’s about saying, 'What happened wasn't okay, but I am choosing to be okay anyway.' This isn't about being a doormat; it's about being free.

When we release our grudges, we create room for new, healthier connections. We stop looking at everyone through the lens of our past hurts. We become softer, more open, and more capable of genuine joy. Kindness is the bridge between who we were when we were hurt and who we are becoming. It’s a slow process, and it’s okay if you’re not there yet. But start by just entertaining the idea that you deserve to let it go. You deserve to be light.