Not too long ago, while doing an interview on sex and relationships, the interviewer asked me, "Don't you ever get tired of talking about sex?" Is she crazy? That would be a firm "no". I think it's because, two things that absolutely fascinate me, are sex and relationships. Since both transpire between human beings, there are always layers and surprises to be experienced. And, when it comes to sex specifically, there are also always techniques to try—things that can be done to make sex even better than it already is.
Today, that's what this article is totally devoted to—things that you and yours can do that will hopefully enhance your sexual performance and help you to accomplish a new level sexual pleasure and satisfaction. Because really, when "upgrading" your sex life is a constant focus and goal, how can you ever get tired of sex? I mean, like…ever.
1. Create a “Sex Code”
I'm thinking that most of us know what safe words are. But just to be on the safe side, it's the word that you give when you want to alert your partner that you are uncomfortable or they are going too far. Well a sex code is similar but different. To me, the best way to break it down is to take us all the way back to beeper days. Although I never had one, some of my friends did. I remember that if they had a boo, sometimes they would have codes for each other. There was a code for "I love you", "I miss you" and well, other stuff.
Yeah, that's the best way to explain a sex code. It's a set of numbers, letters or combination of both that you and your sex partner can use to send a cryptic message that you wanna hook up, that there are certain things you'd like to try (or try again), or that there is a place where you want to do these things. For instance, if there is a particular hotel that you both enjoy, the code could be the number in the street address or the number of the room that you always get. Once your brain gets used to seeing those codes, it will start to stimulate the rest of your body to get excited about what's to come. Try it. It works.
2. Bring in a Pair of Surgical Gloves
What in the world do you need a pair of surgical gloves for? Word on the street is if you fill one of the gloves with lubrication and then you place the glove over your man's penis shaft and stroke it, that can provide a sensation similar to what the inside of your vagina feels like. And why do this over simply having intercourse?
This tip isn't meant to be a substitute (because there is no substitute for yonis); it's simply a fun foreplay tool. Plus, since our hands can provide a different kind of pressure than our vaginas can, it's the kind of massage that your partner will probably really appreciate (especially if you warm the lubrication up a bit before you start).
As far as where to get a pair of these gloves, Amazon sells a pack of 100 for under ten bucks here.
3. Massage Some Unpredictable Spots
Speaking of massages, I don't know too many people who will turn down a free massage; especially if it's a sensual one that's coming from their partner. But the reason why massaging makes this sex technique list is this—the key to giving a really good one is to hit some spots that are somewhat overlooked. For instance, use your tongue to graze over parts of your partner's body where their skin is not as thick like their wrists or behind their ears. To release pent up tension, rub on his shoulder blades, behind his knees and especially his temples. When you're ready to get him sexually stimulated, never underestimate the power of touching his feet, including his toes. Reflexology experts can vouch for the fact that gently rubbing on the top of someone's feet helps to boost their libido, while massaging the outside of their big toe can trigger the production of estrogen and testosterone. Another tip is if you rub on their ankles, that can actually intensify orgasms and ejaculation. If both of you are down to touch these spots, it can trigger y'all in some of the best ways possible.
4. Do the 4-7-8 Breathing Technique
Ask any sex expert—or anyone who has great sex on a regular basis—what is needed to not only climax but feel more connected with your partner and one of the things that is going to top their list is paying attention to your breathing. Learning how to deep breathe with your partner will calm you down, put you more at ease, and eventually make orgasms a whole lot more intense.
As far as breathing techniques go, one that you should definitely try is the "4-7-8" one. What you do is sit in front of your partner (preferably naked). Next, dab a little bit of lavender or jasmine oil right underneath your nose; lavender is a soother and jasmine is an aphrodisiac. Then, both of you should exhale out of your mouths and close them. Then inhale through your noses for a count of four, hold for a count of seven and exhale through your mouths for a count of eight. If you do this 3-4 times, it will help to center you so that you are totally relaxed; it will also build up anticipation for whatever is coming next.
5. Use Some Oral Sex Condiments
Sometimes I'll sit on a counseling session with a couple where one of the spouses will say that, no matter how much they try and get into oral sex, they can never manage to get past the taste or texture of their partner. For those of us who can't relate, we might think that this is petty or even juvenile, but to a certain extent, I see where they are coming from. For some, bodily fluids are an acquired taste. Still, that doesn't mean that there aren't "work arounds" to make it easier to, well, digest.
One thing that you can try is to bring some oral sex condiments into the mix. Just like ketchup or mustard can make a hot dog taste better, honey, maple syrup, chocolate sauce, whipped cream or a combo of cinnamon oil and sweet almond oil can make fellatio and/or cunnilingus a more delicious experience too. Just make sure to put a couple of towels down (to protect your bedding) and have some warm cloths on tap (for afterwards). That will make clean up and/or sex entry a lot easier once you are done.
6. Try the Kivin Method
Speaking of oral sex, the next time your man is about to go down on you, ask him to try the Kivin method.
Don't worry, it's nothing complicated. It simply means that instead of him licking up and down on your clitoris (and vulva overall, really), he needs to move his tongue from side-to-side instead. Since this isn't a technique that is applied a lot, it will stimulate some of the nerves in your clitoris (and vulva) that oftentimes go ignored.
And since there are 8,000 of those bad boys in your clit alone, imagine how amazing you'll feel when some of those dormant once have been awakened. (This makes me think of Luke James reading thirst tweets recently. Something tells me that he knows all about this, girl.)
7. Keep Your Legs Closed
Most of us have heard somewhere that 75 percent of women aren't able to achieve an orgasm from intercourse alone. To that, I say, close your legs. What in the world am I talking about? I'm not the least bit hesitant to share that I used to have some of my best orgasms when my legs were closed. Like when a partner was penetrating me with his legs on the outside of mine, for example. The reason why this works is because with my legs closed, that gives him a greater opportunity to stimulate my clitoris and vagina simultaneously. I've even heard some women say that oral sex orgasms are better when their legs are down, straight and closer together as opposed to hiked up in the air. It might sound crazy but hey—don't knock it until you've tried it. Sometimes, the best sex happens when your legs aren't opened but closed.
8. Play Around with “Putting on the Sock”
You might've heard somewhere that you've got a greater chance of having an orgasm if you've got a pair of socks on. The theory is it works because when your feet are warm, blood flow increases and that can make it easier to climax. That's not what I mean when I recommend "putting on the sock", though. This is actually a Kama Sutra term that refers to your partner first stroking your vagina with his fingers and then with the tip of his penis before actually penetrating you. What it does is give you more time to become naturally lubricated as it heightens his arousal in the process. What it all has to do with socks, you've got me there but back in my sexin' days, I was doing this quite a bit and whew chile, it works. So yeah, I'll all for putting some socks on.
9. “Stir” His Penis
I'm hoping that this particular tip is more of a reminder than anything else. Whether your partner is well-endowed or you simply want to use his penis to find your G-spot, control his thrusts a little more by asking him to be still so that you can use your own pelvis to "stir his penis" around. He'll appreciate getting a bit of a break and you'll enjoy how you can navigate his shaft towards the parts of your vulva and vagina that stimulate you the absolute most.
10. Get into the Blossoming Flower Position
I know—it really does seem like there are a billion-and-one sex positions out here, doesn't it? But this actually isn't all that complicated, I promise. The long short of it is, next time you are in a position where your partner is on top of you and you've got a pillow underneath for extra support, right when you're at the point where you think that his thrusts can't go any deeper into you, pull back and then pull him in just a bit more. Go slow at first, then build up to a mutual rhythm. It will "hit some spots" that you probably didn't know were there and intensify your orgasms in the process.
11. Keep Your Clothes On. Kinda.
One time, while talking to a husband about what he wished he was able to experience more with his wife, what he shared was interesting—pretty simple too. "I wish my wife would let me undress her more. That way, I can decide what parts of her clothes I want to leave on and what parts I want to take off." I did some unofficial polling and discovered that a lot of men can relate to the line in Beyoncé's "Drunk in Love" when her hubby Jay Z says, "Foreplay in the foyer, fucked up my Warhol/Slip the panties right to the side/Ain't got the time to take drawers off, on sight".
When I asked the guys why this was such a turn-on, they said that between the urgency of wanting their partner so bad that there is no time to totally disrobe to enjoying the peek-a-boos of breasts spilling out of bras or panties being pulled over to the side so that sex can be had in atypical places—little moves like this can make sex feel like a new adventure, even if you've been with your partner countless times. Duly noted.
12. Play ‘Never Have I Ever’ (Do What You’ve Nevered)
Soon I'm going to pen a piece on how, just like the weather has seasons, so do married couples when it comes to their sex life. Well, whenever "fall" or "winter" roll around, something that I sometimes recommend that they do is to put their own twist on the Never Have I Ever game. The key is to listen to what neither of you have never tried before on the sexual tip and then attempt it with each other—or at least some variation of it.
I won't lie. In order to play this, you need to be secure in the fact that your partner probably has a past, and this game may enlighten you to some things that you didn't know about it before. But if the main focus is less ego and more pleasure, you'll be far more interested in learning more about your partner and figuring out ways to be their "first" when it comes to what they've never done and what they are open to finally trying—with you. Have fun. #winkwink
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
How To Orgasm With Your Partner At The Same Time
10 Things You Didn't Know About The Male And Female Orgasm
Want A More Intense Orgasm? These Tips Are Sure To Make You Cream
6 Oral Sex Positions That'll Elevate You Even When You're On Your Knees
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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And that is why I decided to put emphasis on the word “late” for today’s topic. Because if you and someone break up and they approach you, well after the fact, with an “I’m sorry,” if you struggle with whether or not to accept it due to the timing of it all, you should definitely ponder that a bit.
And as you’re doing so, it might help to read a bit deeper into what an apology should look and live like, even from an ex, regardless of when it shows up.
Your “late.” Or his right on time.
Three Things That a True Apology Consists Of
GiphyIt’s kind of wild that when you work as a therapist/counselor/coach, a lot of people never really see you as human — and this can include your close relationships. What I mean by that is, it’s almost like they expect you to be free on-call therapy to the point where they “forget” to actually check on you sometimes.
Such is the case with one of my longest-running friendships. Even during the weeks between losing my mother and losing $4K (SMDH), she would just keep calling me to vent about her marriage. I finally got so fed up that I brought it to her attention that for the past couple of years, that is exactly what our friendship has been like: her venting, me listening without her being very invested in my life at all. In response, she texted me an apology — and boy, was it beautiful.
I’m not going to share the details of what she said; however, I am going to tell you three things that it consisted of because it’s what I believe ALL APOLOGIES should entail.
1. She took full ownership for what she believed that she did. I framed this point in this way because, something that everyone needs to forever keep in mind is the fact that two people start and, to a large extent, end relationships — and what I mean by that is, it’s never like one person was perfect and the other was the villain. That said, though, when someone is making an apology to another individual, they are going to own their part and articulate what that part is. It’s not gonna be a simple “My bad.”
It’s going to be “I am really sorry that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me” or “I apologize for taking you for granted” — something that sounds like they get the “offense” that transpired. By doing this, they recognize their missteps — and that is what puts people on the road to not repeating them.
2. She did not deflect or gaslight me. You know what one of the worst apologies are: It’s when someone says they are sorry and then follows it up with, “But you do it too” or “If you hadn’t done ‘A’, I wouldn’t have done ‘B.'” Justifying your actions is a surefire way to make someone believe that you don’t really think that you did something wrong (or that bad) in the first place. And really, how can they trust you (again) if that is how you feel? Oh, and don’t get me on gaslighting.
Ugh, ain’t nothing like someone claiming that they want to set things right with you, only to act like they don’t really get where you are coming from with the issues y’all were having in the first place. A good gaslight line in an apology: “If that is what you think happened, I apologize.” Yeah, you can keep that, jack. Never accept this kind of apology — because it isn’t one.
3. She addressed why she needed to make the apology in the first place. Wanna know one of the main reasons why I don’t trust people who don’t believe in having regrets (check out “Why Regret Might Not Always Be A Bad Thing”)? Did you know that apology means “a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another.” How, as a human, do you think that you are out here not making any mistakes or poor decisions that you sometimes need to APOLOGIZE for? That is just…insane.
And one of the reasons why apologies are important is because if you feel bad about “failing” someone, it’s usually because you value them enough to want to keep them around. And yes, in my friend’s apology, she also explained why she didn’t want me to feel hurt in the way that she had hurt my feelings and what she would do to prevent that from happening in the first place.
So y’all, with all of this out of the way, before getting deeper into this topic? If an ex is hitting you up to apologize to you for something, please make sure that he hits all three marks of a true apology.
Now let’s keep going.
A Genuine Apology Should Also Include an Amends
GiphyA few years ago, I wrote an article for the platform entitled, “Heads Up: It's NOT An Apology If An Amends Isn't Made.” You know how I mentioned a second ago that a solid apology has no gaslighting in it? Hmph. Ain’t it wild how someone can do something that hurts or harms you and yet, they want you to just “hurry up and get over it”? GASLIGHTING.
Someone in my family, after unpacking years of abuse that I experienced at their hand, they had the nerve to say, “I’m not going to keep apologizing to you for this.” Hmm…Okay. So, how about you let me give you a consistent three months’ worth of the years of mistreatment that I experienced from you and then flippantly throw an apology your way. Let’s see how you feel about it. How much you believe that I am being genuine and sincere.
Listen — and please hear me GOOD on this: when someone really gets the magnitude of the pain or discomfort and inconvenience that they caused, they aren’t going to be fine with just saying that they are sorry for it; they are going to ask you what they can do to set things right.
It’s actually a part of the reason why I named the four children who I aborted (check out “Why I Named The Children I Aborted”) because I do have some real remorse for those decisions. Each of their names have an intentional meaning and I strive to leave out their purpose, through those names, on a daily basis. It’s a small way of making amends.
You know, back when my first book came out, my first love reached out, via email, to send me an apology. The apology hit most of the points that I mentioned earlier. Looking back, there wasn’t an offer to make an amends, though, and trust me, there was A LOT to make up for.
At the end of the day, amends means “reparation or compensation for a loss, damage, or injury of any kind; recompense” and while none of us should use bitterness, resentment or emotional stagnation as the “bar” for which we should expect amends to be made, if you’re trying to figure out just how sincere an ex is with their apology, if they want to do something to make things better, that’s a good sign.
There is a caveat, though.
Discern the Motives. Always.
GiphyEarlier this summer, I wrote an article for the platform entitled, “What's Your Motive For Sex? (It Reveals A Lot. Trust Me.)” Then, a few weeks ago, I wrote another article entitled, “As Cuffing Season Steadily Approaches, What The Heck Is 'Winter Coating'?” and boy, when I tell you that both of these complement this point really well? Goodness.
If you’ve never heard of the dating trend known as winter coating before, it’s basically when an ex creeps back up around cuffing season — and if you know what cuffing season is all about, you can absolutely connect the very probable motives behind those dots.
Now can there be exceptions? There are ALWAYS exceptions. Still, if you haven’t heard from your ex in years and here he comes a couple of weeks before Christmas, unless the two of you got together or broke up around the holidays, stay on potential “winter coating alert,” because it might not be about “building bridges” so much as getting into your bedroom.
That said, if it’s been a minute (six months or more) since you’ve heard from an ex and he suddenly reaches out to apologize, absolutely take out a moment to discern the motive — and shoot, feel fine with even asking what is causing him to make the move…now. If it’s in the spirit of the holidays and wanting to go into a new year with a clean slate, got it. If it’s because he’s been in therapy and realizes that he didn’t end certain things in his past very well, understood. If it’s because he didn’t like how the two of you broke up and he wants to try and make peace, that’s fair.
On the other hand, if you sense that he wants to rekindle something (check out “Nelly And Ashanti Are Giving It Another Shot? Here's What You Should Know About 'Ex Reconciliation'” and “I'm Thrilled That Ryan Destiny & Keith Powers Are Back Together. 5 Things Before Reuniting With Your Ex, Tho.” and “What Happens When 'The One Who Got Away'...Comes Back?”) — although that’s kind of another article for another time, do check that motive.
When someone apologizes, you should really be the only focus for them; not what they can get out of it on the back end. Listen, even if he hopes to get back with you (or back in bed with you), that shouldn’t be something that is discussed during the apology. If it is said or even implied, something about HIS MOTIVE is disingenuous. And if that is indeed the case, to a valid extent, so is he.
We All Should Give the Grace and Mercy That We Desire
GiphySooner than later, I’m going to write an article about forgiveness (beyond what I already have here). For now I’ll just say that if you are someone who thinks that other people don’t deserve forgiveness? That is either your pain or your ego talking and, either way, you can’t trust “their” judgment.
All of us mess up sometimes and if you are a karma (or you reap what you sow) believer, then you absolutely should want to extend others grace and mercy so that you can receive it in your own time of need (and you are absolutely delusional if you think a time won’t come, sooner than you probably think, that you will need it).
Besides, do you know all of the self-inflicted drama and trauma that comes from NOT forgiving others: higher blood pressure, insomnia, stress, anxiety, the higher risk of a heart attack, a weakened immunity, a greater risk for depression and anxiety — whatever he did, is it really worth all of this? Yeah, while a lot of people think that weaponizing forgiveness is empowering, really all it’s doing is putting themselves in harm’s way. Physically. Emotionally. SPIRITUALLY: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15 — NKJV)
By the way, no one is saying that forgiving that man means that you have to allow him back into your life. After all, access is a privilege. Yet if he comes to you and acknowledges that he feels sorry for some things, for the sake of your own sanity, why not let him express it? Don’t wanna meet up or talk on the phone? Understood. Email and/or text are there for the taking. Don’t want to go back and forth? Who said that it needs to be a discussion or a debate?
All I know is, the more time you spend on this planet, the more you want to put out the energy that you want to come back. Forgiving others tends to make life easier. Not forgiving? Oh, the way that it boomerangs, sometimes in ways you never saw coming, chile. Dodge that kind of experience (and typically hard life lesson) if you can.
Yes, Better Late than Never
GiphyToo late to apologize. Yeah, I don’t really know if there is such a thing (because forgiving and reconciling are not one in the same and some of y’all will catch that later). I’ll wrap this up with a story to prove my point.
Once upon a time, I knew a woman who was in a serious relationship and yet, whenever her boyfriend would bring up the possibility of marriage, she would stall him out. When I finally asked her what her deal was, she explained that she still harbored so much pain from the man before him that she didn’t fully trust that he was the real deal. About five months later, here came her ex with a thorough explanation for why he made some of the decisions that he did while they were together. Now that she had the full story, she was able to heal. She got married to her boyfriend that following year.
You see where I am going with this? Although your ex’s apology might be “late” as far as y’all’s relationship timeline, the timing may be BRILLIANT when it comes to true when and why you actually need it. Yeah, a Scripture that I adore is “Timing is the Father’s business” (Acts 1:7 — Message) and sometimes those apologies, in the grand scheme of things, are more on time than you could ever imagine; they’re when God deems you need them not when you want to have them.
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It is Oprah Winfrey who once said, “True forgiveness is when you can say, "Thank you for that experience” and sis, if you remove the bitterness and anger and look deeper, there were valuable lessons, even in and from the most challenging relationships. And that is worth appreciating through forgiveness and, if need be, full and complete release.
Bottom line, should you accept an ex’s late apology? Absolutely.
What better way to illuminate your present on a whole ‘nother level.
Just as forgiveness always does.
TRUST ME.
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