It’s been suggested to me on more than one occasion that I have
trouble letting things go. That could explain why one of my
favorite quotes ever (which comes from Third Rock from the Sun,
a short-lived ’90s sitcom) is, “I may forgive, but I never
forget … and I never forgive.” This penchant might come in handy
during fights (“I’m sorry I was late, but remember two years ago
when you forgot my birthday?”), but that doesn’t make it fair.
Plus, the whole holding-onto-the-past thing? Not so great for
mental or physical wellbeing. Grudges, like all things that
stress us out, eventually wreak havoc on our bodies, too. The
inability to release anger weighs on our minds and weighs down
our immune systems. Yet just knowing it’s bad for us doesn’t
make grudges any easier to unload, so how do we learn to
forgive? The Past Can Make Us Sick It’s no secret that stress
causes a host of ailments, including high blood pressure,
elevated heart rates, and even hair loss. And as anyone who’s
held a grudge can tell you, constantl