I’ve never enjoyed saying goodbye. At least not to people I’ve grown close to. I’m pretty good at coming up with the right words and speaking from my heart. That doesn’t mean I enjoy it, especially if it’s someone I won’t ever see again or won’t see again for a long time. I often worry that I’ll start crying and feel awkward. Then I start wondering if it’d be better to cry around them to show how much they mean to me.
Despite the difficulty, I still do it. I’d rather go through the pain involved in getting that closure than regret not doing it. That’s why I don’t understand why it’s so common to wait until someone is on their deathbed or even lying in a coffin at their funeral to tell them how much they’re appreciated, valued, and loved. Why isn’t it more common to say those things while that person is still alive and healthy? The same goes for when someone is moving away or going to a different school, job, etc.
Animals often fully express the love they feel for other animals and humans. I see this all the time in my dog as well as most other dogs I meet. The dog isn’t concerned with how anyone will respond, what anyone else thinks, or if the dog will look silly. No room for any of that with so much love pouring out. We can learn a lot from animals in this regard.
I don’t know if people in countries outside the US are more forthright with their feelings. For that matter, I don’t even know if people elsewhere in the US, or even outside some of the circles I’ve been in, are like this. I feel grateful to have gotten to know plenty of people who express their love for each other during the pleasant times, not just the hard times. I hope I come to know more people like this.
A friend recently reminded me of a beautiful idea when it comes to saying goodbye: this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later. “Goodbye” sounds so definitive whereas “see you later” sounds temporary. I love that. It’s also true more often than not that the parting is only temporary. Whether months or even years go by between visits with a friend, those visits will come around again. That’s why the best way I can think to close this post is to say thanks for reading and I’ll see you later.