Are you the type of person who has a hard time forgiving others as well as yourself? Have you wanted to say sorry to someone for quite some time now, but you just can’t seem to muster up enough courage to do so?
Have you found that harboring old hurts and resentments are starting to catch up to you causing mental, emotional, and physical issues? Well, luckily there’s a whole day dedicated to forgiving and moving on. August 25th marks National Kiss and Makeup Day. It’s a whole day of reflection and choosing active forgiveness to better our lives.
What is Kiss & Makeup Day?
Read More »While some people may think that it is weak to forgive, forgiveness is one of the most highly-regarded abilities that one can possess. The understanding that in order to progress forgiveness of others and ourselves is necessary is quite commendable. Likewise, the ability to forgive and mend fences or simply let go and move on is a great show of strength.
The History of Kiss & Makeup Day
We have none other than Jacqueline Milgate to thank for Kiss and Makeup Day. She decided it was important to make space to consider broken relationships and finally take steps towards a resolution. Kiss and Makeup Day asks us to consider how we can repair difficult relationships by burying the hatchet or at least deciding to forgive and move on.
So many people turn the other cheek when it comes to unresolved relationship issues and problems. This also includes making a resolution to deal with connections that may not necessarily function at their best. Instead of sticking our heads in the sand and avoiding the issue, Kiss and Makeup Day creates the space for us to consider those relationships that have gone sour and to actively take steps to resolve the issue.
How to Honor a Day of Forgiveness & Resolution
There are a number of ways that we can honor Kiss and Makeup Day. The following are some suggestions on how to approach forgiveness and resolution.
Reflect
One of the easiest ways to avoid giving and accepting forgiveness is to bury negative experiences. However, doing this doesn’t resolve anything. In fact, it may create that annoying feeling that we should either say sorry or find a way to get over the unresolved issue. Kiss and Makeup Day Kiss allows us to whether it is possible to obtain and/or give forgiveness in order to mend connections. Even if we discover that some relationships are done for good, we can still find a way to forgive the other party and ourselves to move forward.
Take Action
Once we’ve done the work of considering how relationships in our lives have been affected by holding a grudge, now it’s time to take action to resolve the problem. Kiss and Makeup Day is both reflective and action-oriented. Once we know that resolution can be obtained via forgiveness, it’s important that we take action. Pick up the phone and make that long-awaited phone call. Send someone a letter, email, or text message. Actively seek ways to resolve broken relationships or at least obtain closure through forgiveness.
Make Amends
Kiss and Makeup Day would not be what it is without acknowledging the desire to make amends. Extensions of graciousness and gratitude and/or the decision to let go and move on could occur as part of the resolution and forgiveness process. When confronted with the possibility of making amends, we have the option of holding onto a grudge or freeing ourselves from the burden of unforgiveness. Reach out and give someone a handshake. Accept the apology or at least allow the grudge to go. Give someone a simple peck on the cheek to let the other party know that old grudges are now water under the bridge, and the future is bright for renewed connection.
Kiss and Makeup Day makes it possible to acknowledge that sometimes things may go sour in our connections with people but that doesn’t mean that we can’t use forgiveness to rekindle relationships for everyone’s benefit.
The Benefits of Forgiveness
Did you know that forgiveness offers immeasurable benefits? Did you know that holding a grudge can be horrible for your health? Well, both are true. There’s the old saying that resentful hurts the holder more than the other person. Kiss and Makeup Day gives us the opportunity to better ourselves by releasing the heaviness caused by resentment and grudges.
It’s both important and realistic to note that not everyone is going to be forgiving. This is something that we have to accept. However, the simple act of extending an olive branch could genuinely repair important relationships, especially those that have fallen out over petty occurrences. When it comes to forgiveness and burying the hatchet, it is important to release expectations and allow forgiveness to offer us what it can whether that is a renewed relationship or the ability to accept the ending of a relationship and move on with our lives.
In addition, kissing and making up can improve our overall well-being as it releases the negative energy that is associated with holding grudges. Consider the anxiety created by unforgiveness. Letting go of those unnecessary grudges improves mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Holding onto resentment and negativity can create chronic illnesses and diseases. Who wants that? No one. So, let’s use the intentions of Kiss and Makeup Day to grant ourselves longevity through forgiveness.
Kiss & Makeup Today!
Let’s get into the space of encouraging forgiveness at Kiss and Makeup Day. Forgiveness is not a weakness but a strength. Don’t let ego and pride keep us from mending valuable connections that could potentially bring us happiness. For those that have been wanting to offer an olive branch of reconciliation, Kiss and Makeup Day makes space for forgiveness to occur.
It’s important to note that sometimes relationships can’t be mended for whatever reason. Thus, reconciliation is also about us forgiving ourselves. If an offer of reconciliation is denied, we can still make peace with the fact that reconciliation was attempted. No matter what, do what is necessary at this Kiss and Makeup Day to forgive others as well as ourselves so that we can release ourselves from the burden and unhappiness of grudges.
Ultimately, Kiss and Makeup Day provides the opportunity to tap into our hearts and choose resolution and mending of important, valuable connections. Put pride and ego aside and allow authentic apologies to light the way to fostering harmony and the renewal of important relationships through the forgiveness of others and ourselves.
