Whether there's a difference between the two may be debatable.
I think they overlap, but for me there is a definite distinction. It's hard for me to let go of the wrong I did years ago--the hurt I caused. I try but I don't let myself off the hook too easily. Shame: that's another thing. I came of age in the 60s, which means I pretty much am free of social pressure. Shame is the ultimate social pressure :)
I love this line:
The neighbors are free to think whatever they want. It's their business, and none of mine.
As for Catholicism: I am a skeptic, in all things. So of course orthodoxy came under attack kind of early in my life. Still, I respect what my mother loved and what she taught me, so I try not to disparage those things she held dear.
I definitely agree that we cannot allow guilt to rule our lives. I just hope I don't accumulate more 😃. Try not to hurt. That's what it amounts to for me.
Thanks so much for this thoughtful comment. It's a pleasure to have my writing (and research) regarded with interest.
Hahaha, I love this:
I should tell you, I came of age in Germany in the 90s. Though the 60s had a huge fascination on us, in the end my whole generation seemed to be convinced that we had surpassed the flowerpower years in terms of free love and all. (Though of course none of us could tell for sure, and our parents only smiled knowingly...)
Absolutely! I agree 100%.
And it's my pleasure to read it. I came across your post by chance, but now I'm following, so from now on it'll be intentional.