Forgiveness. A Forgiven.

It’s hard to believe that eight years have flown by, eight years of Barack Obama’s presidency. For the same amount of time he has been in office, I have been fighting racism and homophobia within the police. I’ve realised there comes a point in our lives when we have to move on from things that are not conducive to our wellbeing, and keep us stuck in the past.

I’ve done my bit trying to make the police service better, and am now ready to focus on doing all the good things I can in my life with the time I have left. I will never stop fighting racism, homophobia and other forms of hate, but know there is so much more for me to do out there than fighting an institution that isn’t ready to change. I don’t want to be one of those people who look back in twenty years and wonder … if only I’d done that back then!

When speaking with my friend last week, we spoke about “forgiveness” and “a forgiven”. As people, we often talk about forgiving others who have caused us suffering – but what we don’t talk about, is forgiving ourselves. How can you forgive others, if you can’t forgive yourself? I truly have to forgive myself, before I can forgive those who have caused me harm. We must never forget what has gone, but shouldn’t allow it to have a hold on or impact us. Equally, we cannot change the past – it’s a forgiven. As my beloved late mother said, it’s no use crying over spilled milk! This is true.

As a truly great man has left the office he has occupied for the past eight years and begins a new life with his family, I too am beginning a new chapter where I forgive myself and remember a forgiven is that.

Keep up to date with me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kevin_maxwell

Take care, and see you on the other side x