Grace

To: My roommate

From: Arandi

Message:

I'm grateful for the opportunity to grant you grace. I apologize for forgetting all about that, and for becoming petty, short-sighted, and distorted. I realize that I'm the lucky one to have you as a roommate, not the other way around.

You've allowed me to grant you grace, you're respectful of me and my belongings, you honour boundaries, and you're relatively balanced and never take out your personal issues on me. Also, you've facilitated me to live in a safe space that I was desperate for and which I couldn't and wouldn't have been able to live in if it weren't for you. You never complain about me taking forever in the washroom with my night-time routine, you're quiet, never have parties or obnoxious guests, and you keep the place free of drugs and alcohol. If I need to take a salt soak, you're ok with it, and I never have to deal with any questions about personal work that I do in our place. I'm grateful that you respect my privacy and solitude.

I'm also grateful that you always go all-in with unpleasant stuff like plunging the bathtub, sink and toilet, cleaning out the hair trap (which has only my hair in it), unplugging the washing machine filter, and catching flies. Also, thank you for letting me use your bike pump, for bringing in my packages, and for being meticulous when you clean the toilet. I am confident that our suite is super safe, but if there ever were to be an intruder, I'm grateful that you'd kick their butt with your martial arts skills.

I apologize for being a total asshole to you in the last several months, expecting you to make up for my shortcomings instead of taking responsibility for the things happening in my life that you had nothing to do with.

I'm grateful that I'm in the position to grant you grace and share living space with you, and I'm grateful for your role in helping me be a better person. It is a blessing and privilige to grant grace, and I'm grateful for it and will be sure to remember it from now on. Thank you for being a prop in my learning.