With Mandela Day later this week, South Africans will be coming together to honour Madiba’s legacy by devoting their 67 minutes in various ways. But the 18th isn’t only about charitable actions; it’s also about reflecting on his character and the example he set for the world through his empathy and immense capacity for forgiveness, which altered the course of our country’s history.
The ability to forgive, however, is a difficult and complex process for many of us. It explains why we revere individuals throughout human history who’ve been able to demonstrate forgiveness. The challenges stem from a combination of psychological, emotional, and social factors.
According to the University of Kansas: “Forgiveness is both a process and a choice… It is a complex and enigmatic concept, hard to pin down because it can apply in different ways to different situations; not everyone experiences it in the same manner.”
Forgiveness often means letting go of something significant, whether it’s our sense of moral outrage, our self-righteousness or an urge for revenge, and our attachment to these prevents us from moving forward. But unresolved conflicts can affect our physical and mental health. A Johns Hopkins Medicine article titled: Forgiveness: Your Health Depends on It explains: “Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions.” Numerous studies have found that the act of forgiveness is a powerful tool for healing, reversing these changes.
While we’re familiar with human-to-human acts of forgiveness, a recent story of human-to-animal forgiveness made a huge impact on me. A shark bite survivor from Buffels Bay on the Garden Route has not only returned to the water to swim with the creatures that caused him to lose a leg, but he’s also become an advocate for shark conservation.
Caleb Swanepoel chose to feature in a short film by the WildTrust, part of their Sharks Under Attack campaign, which aims to educate the public about these misunderstood and feared “big fish”. As apex predators, sharks play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced and healthy marine ecosystem, but their sensationalist portrayal in movies and the media, misconceptions about their diet and behaviour (humans are not their food source; attacks are often accidental), as well as overfishing, are just some of the issues they face.
Making the movie was cathartic for Caleb, who wanted to understand the species that changed his life forever. “I am so grateful for this opportunity to reconnect with sharks,” he has said. “I made this choice to continue to process my experience through leaning into new challenges and opportunities, to learn more about sharks and to help protect these incredible animals.”
This Mandela Day, why don’t we work a little (or a lot) on forgiveness. Let’s take that first step – a call, an email or simply setting the intention to soften towards a person who has aggrieved us. Or try to understand an animal that may have harmed us. The benefits are many…
Monday Musings
What the world was musing over this past week
This paid gig’s no joke
A hotel in Scotland has placed a job ad for a comedian to entertain their guests at breakfast for the duration of the Edinburgh Fringe festival. Perks include payment, accommodation and travel to the event.
New museum’s extreme exhibits
The world has its fair share of different and whacky museums from toy museums and sex museums to chocolate museums. And now there’s a poop museum!
Ireland deals travellers a blow
A major travel news story this past week was Ireland’s shock announcement that Saffers (and other nations) now need visas to visit the country. Offering very little wiggle room, travellers’ plans have been badly thrown off course.
Shopping centre bans gnomes
A Polish green “gnome” has become a viral sensation on TikTok but a mall has been harassed to its limits.
