We experience millions of goodbyes in our lifetime -- from little ones we might not notice to ones that completely change our lives. And they’re not all bad. Goodbyes come in all shapes and sizes, and they’re not exclusively sad or happy experiences.
In the past year, I’ve experienced several types of goodbyes that have changed my life. I've said goodbyes to toxic relationships, to friends who go to different colleges, to deceased classmates; I've bid bittersweet farewells that are out of my control; finally, I've said smaller goodbyes to beautiful places I’ve left and to family that I’ll see again in a few hours. Goodbyes are a part of life.
Our mindset, however, is a vital part of how we handle them. They can be excruciating experiences or opportunities to begin again, and they can teach us more about ourselves than hellos ever could. The art of saying goodbye is something that cannot be mastered, and it isn't something that should be easy to do anyway. And that's okay. Our lives are filled with so many exceptionally unique situations that there isn't a universal "best" method to handle this part of life. Although this is true, I've found that a positive mindset helps the situation immensely.
Authors and lyricists have spent their lives capturing moments of saying goodbye, and I hope they change your perception of goodbyes from one of dread to something more positive, as they did for me. To more poetically express the meaning and significance of ‘goodbye’ and ‘farewell’ than I can, here are the most beautiful quotes and lyrics about saying goodbye:
- “It’s important to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse.” -Yann Martel, Life of Pi
- “You and I will meet again, When we’re least expecting it, One day in some far off place, I will recognize your face, I won’t say goodbye my friend, For you and I will meet again.” -Tom Petty, “You And I Will Meet Again”
- “It well may be, That we will never meet again, In this lifetime. So let me say before we part, So much of me, Is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me, Like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine, By being my friend...Like a ship blown from its mooring, By a wind off the sea. Like a seed dropped by a skybird, In a distant wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you, Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” -Stephen Schwartz, Wicked: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical
I hope that these changed your mindset when dealing with goodbyes and they make it easier the next time that one inevitably appears in your life.
