Spirit
(#59519597)
Level 1 Spiral
Familiar
Flora Cerdae
Click or tap to view this dragon in Predict Morphology.
Energy: 0/50
This dragon’s natural inborn element is Light.
Male Spiral
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Personal Style
Apparel
Skin
Scene
Measurements
Length
3.32 m
Wingspan
2.12 m
Weight
64.84 kg
Genetics
Antique
Giraffe
Giraffe
Ivory
Bee
Bee
Metals
Runes
Runes
Hatchday
Breed
Eye Type
Level 1 Spiral
EXP: 0 / 245
STR
5
AGI
9
DEF
5
QCK
8
INT
6
VIT
6
MND
6
Biography
spirit was borne out of me being hurt by a loved one. reading article after article about forgiveness, I thought it would be helpful to my healing to create spirit, to embody my process. if you have stumbled upon this dragon by chance and need to read these words, I hope they help you find your peace.
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realize that you can't make people change.
years ago a therapist told me that you can't make people change - if they aren't open to that, you can only change how you respond and relate to them. knowing this, you may decide that you're not able to maintain this relationship. you need to be honest with yourself here: is it really healthy to stay in this situation?
in my case, I created space to heal and then rebuilt a new, healthier relationship after the dynamics had transformed. though I knew this relationship could enhance both of our lives, I also knew I needed to be mindful of my expectations, as there are certain things it may never be or provide. determine what you need.
you may feel that you can only forgive if this person fully acknowledges everything that hurt you and then takes responsibility for all of it. you may need to go to therapy, either alone or with this person. or it may be sufficient for you to recognize remorse in actions and then work, on your own, to release your feelings.
this will be different for everyone, and that's okay. you are allowed to need whatever you need - but it's crucial that you identify it. if you know you can't move on until you receive a thorough confession and apology, but that just isn't happening, you will set yourself up for pain and unhappiness. after your needs are met, do the work to forgive.
there's an insightful quote that reads: "forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past." that's what it means to really forgive: accept that what happened happened, choose to find at least some iota of understanding for the other person's actions, and then decide if it's in your best interest to let it go and move on.
as with most emotions and choices, forgiving is something we may need to do repeatedly. it's not a one-time decision. what's important is that you want to forgive - that you're willing to have compassion for that person and see them with fresh eyes, even if it isn't always easy. if you don't feel like you can do that, for whatever reason, you may need to take time and then reassess at a later date. it's far better to take space and then reconnect when you're ready to forgive than it is to preserve a relationship that just gets more strained and hostile with each passing day. assess your boundaries.
it's a lot easier to forgive someone for a mistake or series of mistakes if you set clear boundaries for the relationship going forward.
you need to ask yourself if something needs to change in order for you to feel safe and happy in the relationship as it is. do you need to spend less time together? do you need to be clear that certain topics are not open for discussion? do you need to assert yourself when the other person starts talking to you in a certain way? if you suspect that someone may physically harm you, I strongly suggest you consult a professional who is trained to assist with domestic violence cases. this is a far different situation, as one slip-up could cost your life. practice mindfulness.
this is the most difficult part for me: every so often when I'm interacting with this person, memories from years ago resurface - memories I've released many times before. generally, the present moment looks nothing like the past, but a word or a look can sometimes remind me how angry I felt back then.
I suspect this may be inevitable in situations like this. over time the memories become far less frequent, but they always have the potential to pop back up because we are only human. still, we are far more than the sum of our emotions and reactions. we don't need to let ourselves get swept away in anger, disappointment, or anything else that hurts. this doesn't mean we won't feel these things. in fact, it's a good thing that we do. if we didn't feel our pain, we likely wouldn't feel our joys. it means, we can identify our emotions, sit with them, and then choose to challenge the thoughts that exacerbate them. the alternative is to rehash the past in your head - going through everything you wish didn't happen, how you feel about the fact that it did, what you wish you did or said then, and how much you hope nothing similar ever happens again. it's a lot easier to be present when you breathe through your feelings than it is when you obsess about them. open up to joy!
if you've chosen to maintain this relationship, you must feel there's something in it for (both of) you, or else you wouldn't do it. take the time to enjoy each other, living mindfully in the present, within the new boundaries you've set.
if you spend the majority of your time rehearsing old stories or making this person repeatedly earn your forgiveness, this relationship won't have a life in the present - it will just be a shadow of the past. and what's the point of holding onto that? it would be far kinder to just set this person free than to stay connected by a pain you refuse to release. relationships aren't easy. people make mistakes, but even the deepest wounds can heal and the most strained relationships can transform. we just need to learn to recognize when it's healthy to hold on and when it's wiser to let go. only you know what's right for you in this moment, and only you can find the courage to honor it. |
“forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” 
"forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past." 
"to forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. in return, you will receive untold peace and happiness." 
"forgiveness does not excuse their behavior. forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying your heart." 
"a happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers." 
"forgiveness is a process. a choice you have to make over and over, every day, until you're free of hurt." 
"holding a grudge doesn't make you strong; it makes you bitter. forgiving doesn't make you weak; it sets you free." 
"forgiveness simply means loving someone enough to pursue healing instead of punishment when they have wronged you." |
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Exalting Spirit to the service of the Icewarden will remove them from your lair forever. They will leave behind a small sum of riches that they have accumulated. This action is irreversible.
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