Forgiveness is hard for me, man. It is for most American-Western

Host: The café was quiet, the world outside softly blurred by the gentle rhythm of rain against the windows. The flicker of the overhead lights created a warm, almost intimate glow inside, casting long shadows across the wooden tables. Jack and Jeeny sat together, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air. Jack, as always, seemed absorbed in his thoughts, his fingers lightly drumming on the table as he processed the words that Jeeny had just shared.

Jeeny: “I came across something by Art Alexakis today. He said, ‘Forgiveness is hard for me, man. It is for most American-Western males. It’s a sign of weakness.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: He sighed, looking up as if trying to process the weight of the words. “Yeah, I get that. Forgiveness is a tough thing for a lot of people, especially in the way we're taught to think about strength and vulnerability. In our culture, it’s like we’re told that forgiveness is something weak, something you only do when you can’t fight back. It’s not about letting go, but about showing you're still tough.”

Host: The rain outside seemed to soften, its quiet hum blending with the quiet tension between them. Jeeny’s voice, calm and steady, cut through the silence.

Jeeny: “It’s funny how we think of forgiveness as a weakness, right? In some ways, we’re taught to hold onto anger, to feel justified in our grudges because it feels like that’s what keeps us strong. But in reality, holding onto that hurt only gives it more power. It eats at you, making it harder to move on, to grow. Forgiveness is not about letting someone off the hook; it’s about freeing yourself from the weight of that anger.”

Jack: “But it’s hard to just let go. Especially when you feel like you’ve been wronged. Forgiveness feels like admitting that you’re not hurt anymore, like you’re saying that the wrong doesn’t matter. It’s almost like giving up part of your pride.”

Jeeny: “I get it. Forgiving doesn’t mean you forget or that the hurt didn’t matter—it means you’re choosing to let go of the power the situation or the person has over you. It’s not about excusing what happened. It’s about giving yourself the peace to move forward. You don’t have to carry that anger anymore. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength, because it takes strength to let go of something that feels like it’s part of you.”

Host: The café felt quieter now, as if the world outside had momentarily paused, leaving Jack and Jeeny to navigate the deeper layers of forgiveness. The rain had softened, and the only sound was the gentle clink of cups and the soft murmur of their conversation.

Jack: “I guess I’ve always thought of forgiveness as something that makes you vulnerable. Like, if you forgive, you’re saying you’re okay with what happened, that it doesn’t affect you anymore. But maybe it’s about giving yourself the freedom to heal, without holding onto that pain.”

Jeeny: “Yes. It’s about releasing yourself from the past, from the anger that’s holding you back. It’s not about the other person—it’s about you. Forgiveness doesn’t have to be big, or grand—it can be something as small as letting go of the constant weight of resentment. That’s freedom, Jack. It’s freeing yourself, so you can move forward with more peace in your heart.”

Host: The room had grown quieter, as if the rain and their words had filled the space with a shared understanding. Jack, usually quick to hold onto his skepticism, sat back, his expression softening, realizing that forgiveness wasn’t about weakness—it was about reclaiming your own power and choosing peace over the bitterness that could so easily take root.

Jack: “I see what you mean. It’s not about being weak—it’s about being strong enough to let go. Letting go of the anger, the hurt, so it doesn’t control you anymore. Maybe that’s where real strength lies, huh?”

Jeeny: “Exactly. True strength is in the ability to choose peace, to forgive not because the other person deserves it, but because you deserve to move forward without carrying that burden.”

Host: The quiet of the café seemed to settle around them, leaving Jack and Jeeny with the understanding that forgiveness wasn’t about weakness—it was about choosing to free yourself from the chains of anger, about finding peace in letting go. It was the strength to move forward, to heal, and to reclaim the power that was often given away in the bitterness of unresolved hurt.