Hey there, lovely readers! It’s me, Tina, back with another installment of my ramblings. Today, I want to dive into a topic that’s as old as time itself—grudges. I mean, who hasn’t been guilty of clenching their teeth while trying to forget that one person who borrowed your favorite sweater and never returned it? (Seriously, Karen, if you’re reading this, I still want my sweater back!)

Let’s face it, grudges are like those annoying little gnomes in your garden. You didn’t invite them, but somehow they just showed up and decided to stay. And don’t even get me started on how they multiply! One little grudge can turn into a full-on garden party of resentment, and before you know it, you’re hosting a grudge-fest that even your worst enemy wouldn’t want to attend.

Let me take you back to a time when I was holding a grudge tighter than a toddler clinging to their favorite stuffed animal. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and I had plans to meet my friends for brunch. You know the kind—avocado toast, bottomless mimosas, and enough Instagram photos to make anyone jealous. But, of course, my plans were thwarted. 

My best friend, Sarah, called me last minute to cancel because she “had something come up.” Now, I know life happens, but this wasn’t the first time she canceled on me. In fact, I had started to feel like the universe was conspiring against my brunch plans. So, there I was, sitting alone with my coffee, scrolling through social media, watching my friends post their fabulous brunches without me. The bitterness began to brew like a pot of overcooked coffee, and I decided that I was officially mad at Sarah. 

For weeks, I held onto that grudge like it was a prized possession. Every time someone mentioned her name, I’d roll my eyes and mutter something like, “Oh, Sarah? Yeah, she’s too busy for little ol’ me.” My friends would laugh, and I’d feel validated in my grumpiness. But deep down, I knew I was being ridiculous. 

One evening, as I was indulging in my favorite pastime—binge-watching true crime documentaries—I had an epiphany. I realized that I was the one carrying around this heavy backpack of grudges, and it was starting to feel more like a boulder. It was time to let it go! But how? 

I knew I had to confront Sarah, but the thought of doing so made my stomach turn like I had just eaten a questionable taco. It felt easier to hold onto the grudge than to face the potential awkwardness of a heart-to-heart talk. But what would that solve? Would I always want to be the “grudge girl”? 

So, I mustered all the courage I could find, took a deep breath, and sent her a message. “Hey, can we talk?” I hit send and immediately regretted it. My heart raced as I imagined all the ways she could respond. What if she didn’t care? What if she thought I was being dramatic? 

But to my surprise, Sarah replied almost immediately. “Of course! Let’s meet up.” 

When we finally met, I felt like I was walking into a lion’s den. “Okay, Tina. Just be honest,” I told myself. I took a sip of my drink and began, “So, I’ve been feeling a bit grumpy about our last brunch plans…” 

To my shock, Sarah looked genuinely sorry. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to flake on you. I had a family emergency.” 

In that moment, I realized how silly I had been. I had let a small miscommunication turn into a mountain of resentment. We laughed, we cried (okay, maybe I cried a little), and we made a pact to always communicate better moving forward. 

Now, I’m not saying that grudges are always easy to let go of. Sometimes, it’s a bit like trying to get a stubborn stain out of your favorite shirt—you scrub, you plead, and sometimes it just doesn’t budge. But holding onto those grudges only weighs you down, making it harder to enjoy life. 

So, dear readers, I challenge you to think about any grudges you might be holding. Is it worth it? Are you missing out on meaningful connections because of something that happened ages ago? Life is too short to be mad at someone who probably doesn’t even remember what they did. 

Next time you catch yourself stewing over an old grudge, remember my story about brunch, and maybe, just maybe, it’s time to give yourself a little forgiveness. And who knows? You might just find the weight lift off your shoulders, and you’ll feel lighter than ever—like a balloon floating into the sky, or a gnome finally leaving your garden!

Until next time, keep smiling and let go of those grudges. Life is too beautiful to waste on resentment. Now, if only I could get over Karen and my sweater…

Much love and laughter,  

Tina