Jo Wood, ex-wife of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, has spoken about how she learned to forgive after being consumed by anger. In a candid reflection, she described how forgiveness evolved from a simple childhood word into a profound act of self-liberation.
Growing up with a strict father, Wood recalled harbouring resentment over childhood punishments. She promised herself she would never repeat that behaviour with her own children. But it was the breakdown of her marriage to Ronnie that left her with a 'messy mix of grief, anger, heartache and sheer exhaustion'.
A turning point came when a friend invited her to a seminar about love and light. A speaker there said: 'Forgiveness is the greatest thing you can do for yourself. It unties you from them, it releases you from them, it sets you free.' Initially sceptical, Wood later realised the truth in those words.
On holiday in Africa, she climbed a mountain and shouted: 'I forgive those who have hurt me and I walk free!' In that moment, she forgave her father, her ex-husband and, crucially, herself. 'It was like a weight had lifted from my shoulders,' she said.
The forgiveness transformed her relationship with Ronnie Wood. 'He will always be the father of my children and always be part of my life story,' she noted. She has woven this theme into her novel, The Resurrection of Flo, hoping to help other women on their own journeys. 'Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting,' she added. 'It means loosening the grip.'
