18Forty Podcast Gayle Kirschenbaum: Learning to Forgive My Mother [Teshuva 4/5]
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Sep 16, 2025 Gayle Kirschenbaum, an Emmy-winning filmmaker and forgiveness coach, shares her poignant journey of mending her complicated relationship with her mother. She discusses the teachings of a forgiveness coach and how understanding our parents' humanity can facilitate healing. Gayle emphasizes the significance of navigating family dynamics to transform past traumas into connections. The heartwarming inclusion of her mother, at over 101 years old, adds a unique perspective, highlighting the beauty of forgiveness and gratitude across generations.
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Family Ties Amplify Risk And Reward
- Familial relationships carry more emotional risk because they shape our identity from childhood.
- That closeness makes repair harder but also gives greatest opportunity for healing.
Repentance From Love Transforms The Past
- Teshuva me'ahava frames repentance as returning from love rather than fear.
- Loving the present moment lets you transform past hurts into merits.
Born 'Gary'—A Childhood of Preferential Treatment
- Gayle describes being treated differently from birth because her mother expected a son named Gary.
- She knew early that her mother's rage was not triggered by her behavior but by her mere presence.
