My First Blog: Why Women Need to Step Up and Take the Lead

Beyond Cutting Ties: The Art of Graceful Forgiveness.

I used to wear my ability to cut people off like a badge of honor. I believed it was a sign of strength, a testament to my self-respect. If someone hurt me, disrespected me, or acted in a way that I didn’t agree with, I would shut the door on them without hesitation. In my mind, people always knew exactly what they were doing—so why should I give them the benefit of the doubt? But life, in its ironic way, had a lesson waiting for me. The day I found myself on the receiving end cut off, dismissed, and given no room for redemption, for something I did unknowingly, was the day I realized just how much I had misunderstood grace. But life has a way of humbling you, of putting you in the very positions you once judged others for.

I had unknowingly hurt someone, and in their eyes, my actions were unforgivable. But I hadn’t meant to cause harm. I hadn’t been aware of the impact of my words or actions. Yet, despite my intentions, I was shut out without a second thought. And in that moment, I realized the flaw in my thinking. I realized that sometimes, people genuinely don’t know better. Sometimes, they act from a place of their own wounds, blind spots, or misunderstandings. And sometimes, we are too quick to assume malice where there is only ignorance or human error.

This experience reshaped me. It softened me. It taught me that while boundaries are necessary, grace is too. That while accountability matters, so does understanding. I am now a version of myself that pauses before reacting, that asks before assuming, and that forgives when necessary. This is not to say that we should tolerate repeated harm or excuse deliberate wrongdoing. But we should also be wise enough to recognize the difference between an intentional act of betrayal and a moment of human imperfection. We should be aware of our own capacity to hurt unknowingly and extend the same forgiveness we would hope to receive.

It made me realize that sometimes, people truly don’t know the weight of their actions. Sometimes, they don’t see how their words or behavior may have affected us. And sometimes, we assume malice where there was only misunderstanding. That was my turning point. I started to unlearn my rigid mindset and began embracing the idea that people—me included—are bound to make mistakes. I learned that offering grace doesn’t mean tolerating repeated disrespect, but it does mean recognizing that people are human, flawed, and capable of growth.

Now, I choose compassion where I used to choose coldness. I choose to have conversations where I used to choose silence. I choose to forgive when I know someone is genuinely remorseful. And most importantly, I choose to give people the same understanding that I hope to receive.