I think many people confuse forgetting and forgiving. I know I often have confused them. It would be impossible to just voluntarily forget a bad experience. Forgiveness take more understanding though. I had to learn teh difference. As long as I kept remembering, I kept feeling the hurt and forgiveness was out of teh question then (in that emotional state).

Since learning more about the person who hurt me, and understanding more why he does what he does, I could then forgive him. I don't forget it, but I don't feel the anger anymore and that has helped me. Forgiveness is as much for my health as it was for his.