I want to share some thoughts on a subject that is very much out of style: forgiveness.

I realized this morning that I love Ted Lasso (the show on Apple) because it prizes forgiveness, which so many people no longer do.

1)

In one of the season's most important scenes, Ted is confronted with a betrayal. The person spilling to him is crying, and finally seeing her personal failures.

Her expectation is that Ted will leave, or refuse to speak her again.

Instead, he forgives her.

2)

The character of Ted Lasso seems so unrealistic because so few of us are willing to forgive much anymore. Voted for the wrong person? I will never forgive you. Missed my birthday? Unforgivable! Said the wrong thing at the wrong moment? No grace coming your way.

3)

So Ted seems wildly impossible. To me, he simply seems like something close to an ideal, and yet still realistic, person.

He's kind. He sees good in people. More importantly, he sees that people are not inherently awful, even when they do awful things.

4)

It becomes easy to imagine all the people in our own lives who would never forgive us, if they refused to see us as people who can become vulnerable to various circumstances.

5)

This is not a veiled thread intended to forgive certain voters or whatever. But it kind of is. Because I still don't believe most people lie in bed at night thinking, "I can't believe I got away with such dastardly things again!"

6)

Now, that's not to say that forgiveness should not be earned. Ted doesn't forgive, in that particular scene, without considering whether the person who wronged him is contrite. He also considers why someone might make such a mistake.

7)

Anyway, I guess my point is this. It just seems like we have a low bar for deciding someone is unforgivable. A bad tweet? Cancel them! A selfish moment? Cut them off!

I've had plenty of rough moments. I'm grateful for your forgiveness and generosity. And watch Ted Lasso.

8/8)