@britneyspears Cc: @ryanpcathcart

With a long enough timeline, there are no mistakes. ⁣
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I have a personal philosophy around grievous errors in both life and practice that is predicated on the notion that a willingness to learn from and take ownership of behavior and action means that we have an infinite capacity to learn. And grow. ⁣
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Forgiveness of others and forgiveness of ourselves requires honesty and contrition— with the only real apology that matters being the simple act of doing better. ⁣⁣
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In spiritual practice, it means that there is only learning and growing until we die. This philosophy encourages sober minded observation and radical honesty. It also demands that we give the same to others. ⁣⁣
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And, in this life, if we’re lucky, there will be many chances to practice these tools. ⁣⁣
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“The only way to learn forgiveness is to be betrayed. You might understand the intellectual concept of forgiveness, but you will only learn how to truly forgive when someone has done something that requires you to love them and let it go. Life demands these hurtful experiences for you to learn how forgiveness feels; it could be no other way. If there is anyone in your life that you must forgive, instead of seeing them as someone who has hurt you, try to see them as someone who was sent to teach you forgiveness and thank them for this precious gift—then forgive them, and let it go. “ – Jackson Kiddard ⁣
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My teachers are human; they are not infallibe. They are people, just like me and you. Though I’ve dug deep into the Indian tradition of a guru-student relationship, I have done my best in later years to not put my mentors on pedastools— it’s not fair to them. They are guaranteed to fall. ⁣and, it allows them the very same human process I want for myself and for all creatures— learning, growing, and doing better.