Why Goodbyes Are Hard But Not Permanent | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

To The Sentimental Girl Who's Not So Good At Goodbye

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." - Winnie the Pooh

160
To The Sentimental Girl Who's Not So Good At Goodbye
https://images.pexels.com/photos/1004014/pexels-photo-1004014.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=750&w=1260

Psst! Hey, you! Yeah, you, the sweet and sensitive girl with laughing wrinkles in the corner of her eyes. The girl who's cheeks flush whenever someone says her name. I know you feel some pain behind that quiet demeanor. And I know you feel endless amounts of love behind that reserved face of yours. I know you feel lots of things that you don't always show, and I know that being sensitive in such a fast-paced world can leave you feeling left behind, but I promise you that you're emotions do not make you weak.

I'm like you. I think too much and say too little and sometimes I feel like my body can't contain all the thoughts and feelings that are swirling around inside me. And I know how frustrating it can be to feel so deeply, especially in a world where so many things are temporary, but don't be angry at yourself for being a sensitive soul.

You are so incredibly special because when you love, you love fully and wholeheartedly. You don't cut corners or only dip your toes in the water, you dive right in, fully immersing yourself into the things and the people that you love. And caring to that depth can be such a blessing, but it can also be dangerous for people like us. As is the way of the world, the people we place in our hearts don't stay there forever, and for us sentimentalists, saying goodbye can be one of the hardest parts of life.

Goodbyes are devastating for big-hearted people like you and me. When sensitive souls love something, or someone, or a combination of the two, we don't want to let go. We want to hold on forever and keep the things we love close to our hearts. But, for better or for worse, the things we love aren't permanent. Life is a series of evolvement. We grow into new molds, shed our old skins, develop in a million little ways every day, and the things we love can't always keep up with us. They're changing and evolving and growing, too. And when those crossroads come and we must journey down a different path from the things we love, we have to let go.

It's going to hurt, yes. Being sentimental, we like to hold onto things, to keep them safely tucked under our wing away from harm, but the things and the people we love are not ours to manage. They are free spirits, just like you, and it would be more painful to try and hold each other back when your lives take different routes than to just let go.

The distance is painful, yes. That comfort that you held close to your heart leaves an empty space, but remember what I said: things aren't permanent. The pain is only temporary. As you continue to grow, you'll find new loves, new joys, and new desires. You'll plant seeds in the open spaces of your heart as you explore, and they will grow and flourish into new comforts that will blossom and create beauty in your life. They won't replace the loves you left behind, but they'll remind you that your heart is so big that there's enough room in it for all kinds of people and places and things.

Goodbyes are the worst tragedies for those of us with sentimental hearts, but we can ease the pain by knowing that life doesn't have any endings, only new beginnings. We may have to leave the places we love or say goodbye to the people we hold most dear or give up the things that we believe to define us, but this life is too grand to be spent in one place. Physically we have to say goodbye at least once every so often, that's just how life is, but you have to understand that the memories and the experiences that we've gained from those that we love will remain with us forever no matter how far apart our paths may wander.

And sometimes, if you're very lucky, your old loves will be waiting for you at the next crossroads, eager to take a place in your growing and flourishing heart again. Yes, it's true that nothing is permanent, but the things that really matter always have a way of finding us again.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl with a hat

This is for the girls who have dealt with an emotionally, mentally, physically or verbally abusive father.

The ones who have grown up with a false lens of what love is and how relationships should be. The ones who have cried themselves to sleep wondering why he hurts you and your family so much. This is for all the girls who fall in love with broken boys that carry baggage bigger than their own, thinking it's their job to heal them because you watched your mother do the same.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf Quote
"DESTINY IS FOR LOSERS. IT'S JUST A STUPID EXCUSE TO WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM HAPPEN." - BLAIR WALDORF.

The world stopped in 2012 when our beloved show "Gossip Girl" ended. For six straight years, we would all tune in every Monday at 9:00 p.m. to see Upper Eastside royalty in the form of a Burberry headband clad Blair Waldorf. Blair was the big sister that we all loved to hate. How could we ever forget the epic showdowns between her and her frenemy Serena Van Der Woodsen? Or the time she banished Georgina Sparks to a Christian summer camp? How about that time when she and her girls took down Bart Bass? Blair is life. She's taught us how to dress, how to be ambitious, and most importantly, how to throw the perfect shade.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

11 Moments Every College Freshman Has Experienced

Because we made it, and because high school seniors deserve to know what they're getting themselves into

235
too tired to care

We've all been there. From move-in day to the first finals week in college, your first term is an adventure from start to finish. In honor of college decisions coming out recently, I want to recap some of the most common experiences college freshmen experience.

1. The awkward hellos on move-in day.

You're moving your stuff onto your floor, and you will encounter people you don't know yet in the hallway. They live on your floor, so you'll awkwardly smile and maybe introduce yourself. As you walk away, you will wonder if they will ever speak to you again, but don't worry, there's a good chance that you will make some great friends on your floor!

Keep Reading...Show less
laptop
Unsplash

The college years are a time for personal growth and success. Everyone comes in with expectations about how their life is supposed to turn out and envision the future. We all freak out when things don't go exactly as planned or when our expectations are unmet. As time goes on, we realize that the uncertainty of college is what makes it great. Here are some helpful reminders about life in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Lessons I Learned My Freshman Year

The first year of college opens your eyes to so many new experiences.

25
johnson hall
Samantha Sigsworth

Recently I completed my freshman year of college, and boy, what an experience. It was a completely new learning environment and I can't believe how much I learned. In an effort to save time, here are the ten biggest lessons I learned from my first year of college.

1. Everyone is in the same boat

For me, the scariest part of starting school was that I was alone, that I wouldn't be able to make any friends and that I would stick out. Despite being told time and time again that everyone had these same feelings, it didn't really click until the first day when I saw all the other freshman looking as uneasy and uncomfortable as me. Therefore, I cannot stress this enough, everyone is feeling as nervous as you.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments