Major, life-altering, grudges can be a different subject altogether. In my case, ten years of traumatic bullying by my stepfather had me thirsting for revenge long after the man passed away. I was writing of the story in a book titled "Beyond the Dark Water" when self-induced revelations somehow caused the grudge to collapse and expire. In other words, for me, it takes sixty years to let such a bastard off the hook.
Grudges have many levels. They affect millions of minds, some of which can be sensitively forgiving, while others seem set in stone. Some harbor grudges as manifestations of deeper problems.
I don't claim to be an expert, and I have certainly carried unreasonable grudges in my rather long lifetime. My question is, "When do grudges expire?" How long can they be allowed to gnaw at one's entrails like ravenous worms? I have encountered people harboring minor grudges for decades. - While the target may be long gone, or not aware of it at all. In the end, who are we hurting most: ourselves or the target?
