Forgiving someone does not obligate you to re-establish contact with them. In reality, you may simply forgive them and move on in your mind. Consider phoning them or meeting with them to discuss if you discover you do want to reach out and let them know. However, only do this if you are truly able to release them from your heart. The idea of forgiving someone is simple: You stop holding onto the past by not thinking about them or what they did. Instead, you focus on yourself and what you need to accomplish with your own life. Finally, you release them from your heart by not thinking about them every day or worrying about them interfering with your happiness. Forgiveness is important because it removes an obstacle to moving on with your life. It doesn't mean that someone else's actions are justified or that you have to suffer through their mistakes. It also doesn't require you to trust them again. All it takes is true forgiveness to make sure that you don't keep suffering due to someone else's actions. You can only truly forgive someone if you find peace within yourself. Only then will you be free from their influence and they will no longer hold power over you. Forgive others for their mistakes so you can move on with your life.