I'm not sure I like to see mistakes and forgiveness in the same context.
I make mistakes, you make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. That's life. There is no reason to forgive them, I think. Because there is just as little reason to hold them against someone.
However, when it comes to malice, i.e. not a mistake or error, then I am little to not willing to forgive them.
I wholeheartedly agree with you, but I do think that sometimes (more often than many of us care to admit) the negative reaction or feelings rather... come into play in an often "involuntary manner" so we are somewhat tumbled into the process anyway reaction and then remedy.
What you are describing is what I would say is the manner in which we should ALL strive to live.
Perhaps forgiveness was the wrong word in this particular context... perhaps "acceptance" or the "letting go of" before it causes conflict would be more accurate.
I hear you - but even then I tend to look at the "why". People often do very unkind and ugly things because they themselves are hurt. I am not saying that this justifies the action, but I do always try to develop some level of understanding... sometimes though, that is not possible - in which case I would agree 100%