Episode #154 Don't Rush Goodbyes

Six Problems

• Some steps forward are steps away from something we love.
• We often pretend that “it’s not really goodbye” so we don't have to deal with our discomfort or acknowledge our emotions.
• We never know when a goodbye will be our last.
• Most athletes peak before their final season, most academics struggle with “senioritis,” and most professionals coast their way into retirement.
• Tomorrow is never guaranteed, and many of us have fewer tomorrows than we’d like to believe.
• There is a difference between being busy and being rushed, and the latter is characterized by the failure to be fully present.

Six Principles

• Life is full of both greetings and goodbyes.
• Each goodbye is an opportunity to reflect on the past, look toward the future, and say whatever we have long left unsaid.
• The way we leave is the way we’re going to be remembered.
• We can learn from even the deepest pain and study even our greatest mistakes.
• Life’s most meaningful moments occur when we are moving slowly rather than quickly.
• Even strangers that we pass at the grocery store are worthy of our care and attention.

Three Practices

• When approaching a goodbye, thoughtfully consider, “What role has this experience or interaction played in my journey and trajectory?”
• Remind yourself that “things may never be the same” in order to resist the temptation to rush your next goodbye.
• Couple each goodbye with words of appreciation, affirmation, or affection.