Have I completely forgiven my mom for her mistreatment? No. But listen, I’m trying. Today we’re talking about how yoga has tremendously helped my mental health. It has calmed my inner self, regulated my nervous system, and has connected me to myself. I’ve gone through phases with my mom. When I was younger it was anger/denial and we would fight every damn day. I was determined to get her to see my perspective. Well, she never did and when I went to college it turned into sad/grieving. I felt like I had played a role in our poor relationship and I questioned why she didn’t value/prioritize me. After college, I realized I don’t want to be angry or sad anymore, I want peace. I want to forgive, not for her, but for me. Through this chapter of forgiveness, I’ve learned there are no good or bad people. Simply put, there are just people. I don’t want to villainize her and victimize myself. I want to have strong boundaries, control what I can, and let go of the rest.