I find a lot of inspiration in strange places. For example, I just learned a valuable lesson about forgiving from the film Indecent Proposal.

This movie came out in 1993 and earned $266 million worldwide. Besides having an interesting cast—Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Robert Redford (the billionaire making the offer)—it has an intriguing premise: What would you do if someone offered a million dollars for one night with your wife? (That the film won 3 Razzies, including Worst Picture, is beside the point).

Woody Harrelson and Demi Moore make the deal, but after much strife between them, Woody comes to an important understanding. Watch:

For re-iteration, here's the takeaway quote: "The things that people in love do to each other they will always remember. And if they stay together, it's not because they forget, but because they forgive."

This is profound to me. And I've translated it into this principle:

Forgiving and forgetting are not the same thing.
Think of the wrongs that people have done to you in the past. Could/can you still be close to them, knowing you will never forget what they did? If the answer is yes, then you've forgiven them. I think sometimes, in our neverending quest for perfection, we wish to be free from bad memories or any imperfect thoughts. But that seems like a recipe for loneliness and anxiety.