Poem - Is it a good thing to cherish grudges?

 

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Undeniably, we've all had times where we have gotten angry, and it's a very common and normal emotion that we feel, adding to our very rich and varied human experience. Anger is a pretty huge topic, very subjective too, but for this post, I just want to focus on grudges and share my thoughts about it.

While getting angry is completely normal, turning it into a grudge can be pretty self-destructive, especially in the long run. I've seen many people hold grudges, especially in my own extended family, and it is never a pleasant sight to see. There's always contention, shady looks, gossip, and what not between people who hold grudges. There's never peace and always fake smiles, and when you know that the other person is just acting nice, it makes the whole thing awkward. I'm sure a lot of you have seen it within your circles. 

Personally, I feel like holding anger within is the biggest waste of time, energy, and emotions. It mildly annoys me and even puzzles me when people go about doing such things and even going to the extent of taking revenge on someone. I have always felt like it is a lot better to direct those emotions elsewhere or do something healthy instead of dwelling on the past and letting it rot inside. 

One example I've heard of is my mom's best friend. She has had an eye problem for years and even the doctor she went to didn't know what was causing it. She also happened to have unresolved aches and pains and many grudges. When she realised that she had to forgive, she readily forgave and forgot. As a result of that, her eye problem disappeared! This is an amazing testament of how forgiveness heals, and how holding grudges can destroy physical and mental health. 

I may be all talk, but I have had my fair share of grudge-holding too. It's natural that all of us have others hurt us as we go on our life's journey. In my early teenage, I would hold grudges against people who hurt me and I wouldn't let them go. Only as I progressed to the mid and late teens, I started to realise that thinking of old wounds and scars, the people who inflicted these wounds on me, and crying over spilled milk was all pointless and a waste of time. Surely, to everyone who has held a grudge, is holding a grudge, or is jealous, there are much better things to do. 

As a result of these realisations, below is a poem I wrote reflecting the emotions and opinions that I have about the subject:

The Benefits of Anger

The benefits of anger are

Nothing.

A soul in anger cares for self

And not the other.

A soul carrying grudges

Will make a burdensome trudge.

A soul that is harsh and exacting

Will not stoop down to be caring.

A soul that doth not let go of anger

Is a soul in grave danger of death eternal.

A soul that cherishes anger

Kills not only another, but himself too, and injures the Almighty.

For cherished anger is a slowly consuming poison,

A poison tree that bears fruits of hatred,

Which will kill all who eat of it.

For your peace of mind and sound health

Let go of anger.

In a system as beautiful as yours

It is but a mismatched puzzle piece;

It has no place to be there

Because the benefits of anger are

Nothing.

-platinum

To those of us who struggle with this, I hope and pray that you will find a way to let these hurts go. The freedom you feel when you do is amazing. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that is to polish our characters for the better. As I wrote in the poem, your body and your mind are too beautiful and precious to harbour these corrosive feelings. The sooner you let go of these time-wasters, the better!

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Love,

Arnica