If you are bitter, you are like a dry leaf that you can just

Host: The soft murmur of conversation filled the café, the rich aroma of coffee wafting in the air, mingling with the quiet clink of spoons against mugs. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow across the room. Jack sat at the table, his gaze distant, a faraway look in his eyes. Jeeny, sensing his contemplative mood, waited patiently for him to speak.

Host: Finally, Jack broke the silence, his voice calm but filled with a quiet intensity.

Jack: “I came across something today by Vusi Mahlasela. He said, ‘If you are bitter, you are like a dry leaf that you can just squash, and you can get blown away by the wind. There is much more wisdom in forgiveness.’ It got me thinking about bitterness. It’s easy to feel justified when you’re hurt, but the idea that bitterness makes you vulnerable, like a dry leaf, really struck me. What do you think?”

Jeeny's eyes softened, and she leaned in slightly, clearly drawn to the depth of the thought. Her voice was gentle but filled with understanding.

Jeeny: “I think he’s saying that holding onto bitterness is like carrying something heavy that weighs you down. It doesn’t protect you; it just makes you more susceptible to being hurt again. Bitterness can eat away at you, leaving you feeling empty, like that dry leaf, ready to be swept away by anything that comes along. But forgiveness, that’s what gives you strength. It’s not about letting the person who wronged you off the hook, but about freeing yourself from the weight of resentment.”

Host: Jack nodded slowly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table as he absorbed her words. The quiet of the café felt more pronounced now, as if the conversation was unfolding slowly, gently, allowing each thought to take root.

Jack: “But is it really that easy? To just let go of bitterness? It feels like when you’re wronged, it’s almost natural to hold on to that anger. It feels like a shield, like something that protects you from getting hurt again. So how do you move past that feeling?”

Jeeny smiled softly, her expression empathetic yet wise.

Jeeny: “It’s not easy at all. Forgiveness isn’t about pretending the hurt didn’t happen or about ignoring it. It’s about realizing that holding on to bitterness only continues to hurt you, not the person who wronged you. It’s about freeing yourself from the power that anger and resentment have over your life. It’s hard work, but the truth is, when you forgive, you take back your control. You decide that your peace is more important than the pain someone else caused.”

Host: Jack’s eyes seemed to soften, as though he were seeing things from a new perspective. His fingers stilled on the table, and the quiet rhythm of the café seemed to echo in the spaces between their words. He looked up at Jeeny, his voice quieter now, filled with a sense of revelation.

Jack: “So, forgiveness is really about empowering yourself? About choosing to heal, even if the other person hasn’t apologized or changed?”

Jeeny nodded slowly, her eyes steady and filled with understanding.

Jeeny: “Exactly. Forgiveness is for you, not for the person who hurt you. It’s about reclaiming your peace, your freedom, and your ability to move forward without the weight of past hurts dragging you down. When you forgive, you stop letting the actions of others control how you feel. It’s about letting go of the power bitterness holds over you.”

Host: The conversation felt like a moment of quiet clarity, as though the idea of forgiveness had shifted something in the air between them. Jack sat back in his chair, the tension in his shoulders easing as he processed what they had discussed.

Jack: “I think I understand now. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you forget the hurt, but it means you choose to move forward, not let it define your future. It’s about finding peace within yourself.”

Jeeny’s smile deepened, and her voice was soft with the gentle wisdom that had emerged from their conversation.

Jeeny: “Yes. It’s about choosing to let go of the things that hold you back, so you can grow, so you can be free. Holding on to bitterness keeps you stuck in the past, but forgiveness opens the door to healing and peace.”

Host: As the conversation lingered, the weight of the words seemed to settle between them. The world outside continued its steady rhythm, but inside the café, Jack and Jeeny sat in a quiet understanding — the realization that forgiveness is not just a gift for others, but a powerful tool for personal freedom and growth.