Forgive. Forget. Be Happy.

Thanksgiving came and went. I have to say, I was fortunate. I was able to spend it with family, some of which I had not seen in over 15 years. I was able to see my cousin, the one I fought with, yet got along with the best while growing up.

I immigrated to the US just shy of 7 and have only seen him a few times since, the last being when I was 18. I am now 34. I was able to meet his wife and kids, whom I’d only known through Skype and Facebook posts, for the first time.

They are also trying to make a new life for themselves. I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my brothers and Mother for the first time in, well, it’s been so long that I can’t really recall the last Thanksgiving we spent together.

Most importantly, I was with my wife and kids — the most important people to me in this world.

I should be thankful. I AM thankful. My past is not the same as any other person’s. That is not to say that I had it harder or easier than anyone, but I just had my own experience growing up, as did we all. Some of those experiences shaped me into the person I am today.

It could be said, in some cases, for the worse. So, am I happy? Over the past week I faced my own demons and had to be honest with myself about how those demons still haunt me. Through it all I came out a better individual. A happier one.

What are those demons? None of your damn business, that’s what. OK, in all seriousness, regardless of what they were, I have chosen to move on. The closure that I wanted and felt like I needed, I’ve realized, is never going to come.

So, I had to create my own closure. I had to face the fact that there are some things that I will never know. Is that a good thing? Whether it is a good thing or not is irrelevant. What I do know is that I’ve accepted that fate and have decided to stop punishing myself for things that are out of my control.

Besides, I’ve had it easy compared to others and it isn’t fair to continue to punish others for something they really can’t control either.

Sometimes the truth hurts so much that those closest to you feel like they need to keep it from you in order to protect you.

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