And as I ask for your forgiveness, I also ask for your support to

Host: The light is dimming outside, the orange hues of the setting sun giving way to the cool blue of evening. Inside, the room feels heavy, but still — like the moment before a storm breaks. Jack and Jeeny sit on the couch, the weight of the conversation looming between them. The words they’re about to share hang in the air like a slow exhale, and neither of them seems in a hurry to break the silence. The quote from John Rowland floats between them, a challenge to see things clearly, to balance the good and the bad in life.

Jack: “John Rowland said, ‘And as I ask for your forgiveness, I also ask for your support to keep all things in perspective and keep all things in proportion. The good of nine years versus the bad.’” He repeats the words slowly, his voice soft but thoughtful. “It makes me think about how we often get stuck on the bad stuff, the mistakes we’ve made. It’s easy to let the negative outweigh everything else. But how do you really keep everything in perspective when the bad feels so heavy?”

Jeeny: Her gaze is steady, a quiet understanding in her eyes. “It’s easy to let the bad take over. I think we all do it. When we face mistakes, regrets, or failures, they can feel like they define us. But the truth is, life isn’t just about the mistakes or the bad moments. It’s about everything that came before those, everything that’s happened alongside them.” She leans forward, her voice gentle, but firm. “The good, the love, the growth — it all matters too. What Rowland is saying is that we need to look at the big picture, not just the parts that hurt.”

Jack: “But how do you stop the bad from overshadowing the good? When the mistakes weigh you down, how do you see the value of everything else?” His voice cracks slightly, the frustration obvious. “It feels like when you’ve done something wrong, it becomes this anchor, pulling everything else down with it. It’s hard to see the good when the bad feels so loud.”

Jeeny: “That’s the hardest part, isn’t it? But maybe that’s why forgiveness is so important, not just from others but from yourself. Forgiveness allows you to step back and see the whole picture, to stop letting the bad moments define who you are. It’s about giving yourself the space to see that the mistakes are just a part of your journey, not the entirety of it.” She pauses, her eyes softening. “When you keep everything in perspective, when you remember the good of nine years, the bad doesn’t seem as overpowering. It becomes just one chapter in a much bigger story.”

Jack: “So you’re saying it’s about balancing the good and the bad, not letting one dominate the other?” His voice is quieter now, almost reflective, like he’s starting to see the sense in what she’s saying. “I guess if we only focus on the bad, we’re missing all the things that went right, all the growth, the lessons, the people we’ve loved and who’ve loved us back. Maybe it’s time to shift the lens and really see everything.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. The bad is important — it teaches us, it shapes us. But so does the good. So do the moments of kindness, the victories, the small wins. Those are just as real, just as valuable. What Rowland is reminding us is that life isn’t a series of isolated events; it’s a whole, and every part contributes to who we are.” She smiles gently, her voice steady. “By putting things in proportion, we free ourselves from the weight of the bad and allow the good to shine through, to remind us of everything we’ve gained along the way.”

Jack: He takes a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing as the weight of her words begins to sink in. “Maybe I’ve been letting the mistakes define me too much. I’ve been focusing on the things I’ve done wrong instead of looking at the bigger picture.” He meets her gaze, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips. “It’s hard to see it sometimes, but I guess it’s all about perspective.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. The good of nine years is just as much a part of you as the bad moments. And when you look at both, you start to see the whole picture, the full journey.” She leans back, her eyes soft but filled with quiet confidence. “It’s about learning to forgive — yourself and others — and giving space to both the light and the dark. That’s when you start to find peace.”

Host: The room is still now, the air filled with a quiet sense of understanding. The tension has dissolved, replaced by the gentle weight of shared wisdom. The world outside continues to turn, but inside, Jack and Jeeny have found a new way to see the past, to understand that the mistakes do not define them, but that every experience, both good and bad, contributes to who they are today. The balance between the light and dark is where true growth lies, and in that space, forgiveness becomes the key to moving forward.