What if I forgave myself? I thought. What if I forgave myself even though I'd done something I shouldn't have? What if I was a liar and a cheat and t… - Cheryl Strayed

What if I forgave myself even though I'd done something I shouldn't have?

What if I forgave myself? What if I forgave myself even though I’d done some things I shouldn’t have? What if I was sorry, but if I could go back in time I wouldn’t do anything different from what I’d done? What if yes was the right answer instead of no? What if all those things I shouldn’t have done were what got me here? What if I was never redeemed? What if I already was?

What if I was never redeemed? What if I already was?

There is no cure except to live the hell out of our lives, to take it apart, to put it back together, to dig it all up, and then fill the hole. To help ourselves and one another to the best of our abilities. To believe everything entirely, while also calling bullshit for what it is.

I could go back in the direction I had come from, or I could go forward in the direction I intended to go.

Don’t buy into the idea that women aren’t strong enough to do anything they want on their own.