Forgiveness

So how do you forgive someone who says horrible things about you? How can you consider that person a friend, when either to your face, or in a round about way, they call you names you won't even say out loud? Do you pass it off as a bad temper or do you realize that after all that time when you thought you had a good relationship, at least now you finally know how they really feel? In turn, how can you ask to be forgiven when you have said something that has hurt someone? thoughts?