Taking Me Seriously

This is a story about forgiving yourself and letting go.  I am the queen of only remembering stupid things I did or said, and beating myself up about it for way too long.  Nearly 16 years ago (16 years!), I said what I thought was a stupid, insensitive thing to a co-worker in a moment where she was being kind and supportive. I know you're wondering "what did you say?" but I'm going to keep that between her and I, and it doesn't matter any way. (Hint: It was about a mom/parenting thing we both had in common.) And if I told you what it was, you'd likely say "That is so insignificant; you surely have nothing to worry about." But... The important part of it is that I thought about it regularly, for years afterwards, berating myself - thinking she surely must hate me.  She was my friend on the social media so -- in a brave moment, I reached out to her and apologized for my insensitivity all those years ago. She didn't even remember it but thanked me f...