Personal Narrative Essay

I was seven years old, and I had just finished a large assignment in my math workbook. My younger sister Vera was eating dinner and as she moved her hand, she knocked over her glass of water. I watched in horror as it quickly ran over the dark table and onto my math workbook. I soon broke into tears as my hard work was now covered in water and the ink on the pages was smearing. I was unbelievably angry at her. While I was fuming and trying to dry off my soggy workbook, my babysitter Lauren told me something that I won’t forget: “Cry yourself a river, build a bridge, and get over it!” At first I was shocked at the harsh advice, and kept crying, but that phrase has helped shape my life.
Later on that night I realized: I could get as upset as I wanted about my ruined workbook, but I had to get over it at some point. That night I learned that my tears couldn’t change the past. Staying angry at Vera wouldn’t make the water go back in the glass. As much as I didn’t want to, I had to forgive her. …show more content…
I believe that it’s okay to be angry at first, and in order to get over the bridge I need to have a river to get over. My sister’s knocked over glass of water was a mere accident of a five year old, rather than times that I’ve been disappointed with myself. There have been times where I’ve let myself down by not taking opportunities, not performed as well as I thought, or done something I regret. Forgiving myself is the hardest because I can’t forget about it. Unlike having to forgive a friend, you can’t escape the person you are angry at because it's yourself. Once, I said something rude to a friend and immediately I saw how hurt and shocked they were by their facial expressions. As they quietly walked away, I was so angry with myself, wondering why I had said that. I forgave myself later after my friend forgave me. That day was when I learned that seeking forgiveness from yourself is the most