I have been sure that I would not be able to forgive my parents. Mistakes were made in the past. Those mistakes have cost me heart ache and have worked to fuel my depression and anxiety these past three years after a breakdown... These days, though, I have been going to a lot of therapy. And I feel a change. This past weekend my dad and his wife came to our house for lunch. Did he say all the wrong things? Yeah. Did he shut me down every time I wanted to say something? Yeah. He was in one of his moods, and he and his wife both drove me nuts. This morning I talked to my mom. Did she have her issues that she's had forever? Yes. Still, I can see forgiveness on the horizon. And I am thinking... how much of forgiveness has to due with our own psychological boundaries. As I am able to erect these boundaries between myself and my parents it feels easier to say, "this is how they are, they continue to drive me nuts but I can protect myself. It doesn't effect me as much as it used to -- I can watch it happen and stand outside of it." In the past, I had never been able to even talk back to my dad. At least this time when he said, "you've gained weight" I was able to snap back, "you're not supposed to say that to anyone."