Next month we celebrate Mandela Day (18 July 2024) but this week is Forgiveness Week and it seems to be a perfect time to remind ourselves as a nation how important it is.

Depending on individual tolerance and level of wrong-doing, forgiveness comes easier for some than it does for others. However, it is difficult to find a more selfless, modern-day message of forgiveness than that of Nelson Mandela’s life story.

After being imprisoned in South Africa for 27 years, simply for his protest of Apartheid, one might expect that he would hold at least a small grudge. But, as he so eloquently said himself,

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

By placing forgiveness at the forefront, we pave the way for a society that embraces compassion and empathy, fostering understanding and harmony. National Forgiveness Week serves as a reminder to embrace the strength in letting go and moving forward. It inspires us to contribute to a kinder world.

The recent article about John Gardener (1948G) is only one example many ODs who demonstrate lives that show a deep commitment to doing good and being kind. This week we celebrate John Gardener and every OD who is in the business of fostering a culture of reconciliation and peace.