At the tender age of nine is when I came face-to-face with the significance of saying good-bye. My parents told me about our family moving to another town that summer. My packing was not focused on our upcoming move but rather packing my suitcase (two months in advance) to go to summer camp for the first time by myself.
The week I was at summer camp was the week my family moved to our new home and started the moving in, unpacking process. My parents came and picked me up from camp and I shared with them all the things from my week. When we “arrived home” it was to our new home and not our old home. I was excited to explore the new house and see my new bedroom as I was not going to have to share, and I was sad and devasted that I did not get to say good-bye to my dear friend.
My mom had me write a letter to my dear friend as a way I could say my good-bye which taught me the importance of saying good-byes to bring closure. It was hard to sit and write a letter, harder still to not receive a letter in response. Reflecting on that time, what I learned, I got to share to my friend what she meant to me and her friendship.
Savoring goodbyes doesn’t make parting easier, but it does make it richer. It invites us into the fullness of our human experience—grief braided with gratitude; endings woven with hope. When we honor our goodbyes, we also honor the depth of the connections and moments we’re leaving behind.
Because in the end, goodbyes are not just about what we let go of—they are about what we choose to carry forward.
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