In the final episode of Finding Forgiveness - A Family Fairytale, Susan Gibson brings her journey full circle by writing a heartfelt letter to her mother, just as she did when the podcast began. This closing letter reflects on her and her mother's transformation as they worked to mend their relationship. Although their bond was never perfect—like many mother-daughter relationships—Susan chooses to focus on the precious moments they shared in the last years of her mother’s life. She acknowledges the unanswered questions but decides to let them rest, cherishing the peace they found together. As Susan signs off on this last episode, she shares a dream and talks about visiting her mother’s grave, leaving listeners with a powerful message about the importance of forgiveness. Susan doesn’t want the relationships and connections formed during this podcast to fade away, so she encourages her listeners to stay in touch, inviting them to share their stories of forgiveness.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [0:00] Susan writes a closing letter to her mother: Hi, mom

• [1:46] Susan talks about transformation and unanswered questions

• [4:41] Susan discusses her mother and the time they forgive each other

• [7:27] Susan reveals she has been back to her mother’s grave, and she talks about a dream she had about the experience

• [10:48] Susan signs off on her last episode of Family Fairy Tale - Finding Forgiveness

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• It took work for Susan and her mother to mend their relationship. It was never perfect, but no mother-daughter relationship is without disagreements

• Susan still has unanswered questions, but she has decided to put them aside and remember the last years she and her mother spent together and the memories they made

• Susan does not want the relationships she has formed during this podcast to disappear, so she encourages listeners to email her. She would love to hear from you

QUOTES:

“Just as I opened my podcast a year ago with a letter to my mother, I'm closing in the same way. Perhaps you, too, would like to write a letter to someone you've forgiven or would like to forgive. It's always been my go-to when saying the words out loud feels frightening and final.” Susan Gibson

“Though this is the last episode of my podcast, Finding Forgiveness - A Family Fairy Tale, it's not the end of our time together. I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at susan@findingforgivenesspodcast.com. Thank you for being with me and listening to my family fairy tale.” Susan Gibson

“What a year it’s been. I've been through a lot of deep exploration, exposing tender spots, and sharing closely held secrets, family secrets, your secrets, and my secrets. I've celebrated our family, our life together, and my life. I've explored my heroine's journey, with the backdrop of you and our ancestors, my friends and foes, my allies and ogres. I've learned so much more about myself. You know how I love transformation. Transformation of organizations, transformation of others, transformation of myself.” Susan Gibson

RESOURCES:

Susan Gibson - Email

ABOUT THE HOST:

Susan Gibson grew up in a small town in Northern Maine, the only surviving child of parents who married young and divorced young. From the influence of their shared experiences, Susan has learned two things that are core to who she is: the value of community and the power of having a voice.

Susan has spent her entire academic and professional career as a woman in tech. She started as a developer in the mid-80s and continues today as CEO of Temenos+Agility, a management consulting company she co-founded with her partner, Siraj Sirajuddin. Together, they help enterprises transform organizationally and personally to find a more meaningful way to deliver value to their customers.

Susan frequently contributes to the Women in Tech (WiT) Regatta and speaks worldwide at public and private events. She uses her voice to grow communities of women, mentors and allies in tech.

Susan has many lifelong pursuits - healthy eating, fitness, yoga and meditation, music, theater, opera, reading, movies, travel, family and friends. She is also rebuilding her family’s 110-year-old homestead in Northern Maine, a labor of love.

Welcome to Finding Forgiveness: A Family Fairytale, hosted by Susan Gibson. In this heartfelt episode, Susan invites listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and the transformative power of forgiveness. She begins by discussing the importance of setting a themed goal for each year. This year's focus is "Integrating My Whole Self." As the episode unfolds, Susan reflects on how sharing her personal story has been a healing experience, emphasizing the balance between our feminine and masculine energies. She also explores how embracing the present moment can bring clarity and peace. Throughout the episode, she reminds us that while we cannot change the past, we can learn from it, and through forgiveness, we can create new, healthier relationships—even with those who have caused us pain. If you’re struggling with forgiveness, Susan is here to guide you and would love to hear your story.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [0:35] Setting a theme goal for each year: Integrating My Whole Self

• [2:52] Finding freedom in forgiveness and the power of storytelling

• [6:24] Reflecting on how sharing this story with the listener has been healing and the partnership of feminine and masculine energies

• [12:25] Thinking back on heritage and current partnerships and acknowledging her feminine and masculine sides

• [17:28] Susan is excited about what is coming next in her life and taking a look at our life experiences and what has brought us to this moment in time

• [22:19] Learning how to live in the moment

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• We cannot change the past. We can only learn from it and examine how we experience it.

• It is possible to start a brand new relationship with a person who has caused hurt. You can find freedom in forgiveness.

• If you are hurting and struggling to get started on the path to forgiveness, Susan is here to help and would love to hear your story.

QUOTES:

“Every new situation brings a new experience. Even the same old situation brings a new experience because we are different from one moment to the next. From one day to the next. Day one, week one, one year to the next because our experience has extended by one moment, one week, one year.” Susan Gibson

“Each of us influences and affects someone else, who influences and affects someone else, who influences and affects someone else and so on. Being a human being carries an enormous responsibility because we are not alone. It also carries great comfort, because we are not alone.” Susan Gibson

RESOURCES:

Susan Gibson - Email

Susan Gibson’s LinkedIn

Finding Forgiveness YouTube

ABOUT THE HOST:

Susan Gibson grew up in a small town in Northern Maine, the only surviving child of parents who married young and divorced young. From the influence of their shared experiences, Susan has learned two things that are core to who she is: the value of community and the power of having a voice.

Susan has spent her entire academic and professional career as a woman in tech. She started as a developer in the mid-80s and continues today as CEO of Temenos+Agility, a management consulting company she co-founded with her partner, Siraj Sirajuddin. Together, they help enterprises transform organizationally and personally to find a more meaningful way to deliver value to their customers.

Susan frequently contributes to the Women in Tech (WiT) Regatta and speaks worldwide at public and private events. She uses her voice to grow communities of women, mentors and allies in tech.

Susan has many lifelong pursuits - healthy eating, fitness, yoga and meditation, music, theater, opera, reading, movies, travel, family and friends. She is also rebuilding her family’s 110-year-old homestead in Northern Maine, a labor of love.

Welcome to "Finding Forgiveness: A Family Fairytale," hosted by Susan Gibson. In this episode, Susan invites listeners to explore the depths of their masculine hearts, beginning with a poignant reflection on a dream she had following her mother's death. She candidly discusses her evolving feelings towards the patriarchy, acknowledging past resentment that has since softened. Susan recounts a moment at a conference where she was subjected to inappropriate behavior. As she navigates her journey to find her masculine heart, Susan delves into the healing power of integrating feminine and masculine energies. Susan would love to hear what's in your masculine heart or help you find it first, and she would be honored to be your guide or assist you in finding one.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [1:10] Susan challenges the listener to wonder what is in your masculine heart, and she describes a dream she had following her mother’s death

• [5:28] Susan admits she has held resentment towards the patriarchy; however, now it has softened

• [7:03] Susan shares an instance at a conference where a man was inappropriate and how she and others responded

• [15:25] Susan finds her masculine heart

• [18:42] A discussion of the combination of the feminine and masculine and how the combination will help you find healing and forgiveness

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The feminine can heal the masculine nature inside of us and help us find our masculine heart

• The pandemic brought out kindness in some people but anger in others

• Change begins with ourselves and flows from the healing and forgiveness you can share with others

QUOTES:

“The man knew he was inappropriate without anyone saying or pointing it out. The bros are evolving and policing each other's behavior. Remarkable. Amazing. I think I found my masculine heart that day, and it was filled with love and forgiveness. Oh, forgiveness takes so many forms. Forgiveness of another. Forgiveness of self. Forgiveness of a societal structure. I'm still working on forgiving the patriarchy. But I am grateful that I found my masculine heart filled with love and forgiveness. That's important as I continue to heal myself.” Susan Gibson

“When we can heal our masculine heart, it allows that heart to shine. The masculine heart can confront the patriarchy and the masculine structures in a way that the feminine energy cannot, right? The masculine energy knows the masculine structures, just like our feminine energy inherently knows the feminine structures. So, finding a way to see our masculine heart and let it shine is vital to our existence and changing the structures around us. It takes a combination of feminine and masculine energy for that to happen.” Susan Gibson

RESOURCES:

Susan Gibson - Email

ABOUT THE HOST:

Susan Gibson grew up in a small town in Northern Maine, the only surviving child of parents who married young and divorced young. From the influence of their shared experiences, Susan has learned two things that are core to who she is: the value of community and the power of having a voice.

Susan has spent her entire academic and professional career as a woman in tech. She started as a developer in the mid-80s and continues today as CEO of Temenos+Agility, a management consulting company she co-founded with her partner, Siraj Sirajuddin. Together, they help enterprises transform organizationally and personally to find a more meaningful way to deliver value to their customers.

Susan frequently contributes to the Women in Tech (WiT) Regatta and speaks worldwide at public and private events. She uses her voice to grow communities of women, mentors and allies in tech.

Susan has many lifelong pursuits - healthy eating, fitness, yoga and meditation, music, theater, opera, reading, movies, travel, family and friends. She is also rebuilding her family’s 110-year-old homestead in Northern Maine, a labor of love.