Goodbye.
Goodbyes are hard. I've come to find out that no matter how "good" we think we become at them, they are never easy and most of them folks tried to avoid them like a car crash or a run in with that awkward person you went on a date with once upon a blue moon. In the last 12 years, I've been fortunate to live in some incredible places and meet folks along the way who have guided me, molded me, shaped me, and become part of my story. Looking back, I know how blessed I was to have the opportunity to go to college out of state, let alone go to college, and when I left Memphis after 7 years, I was a wreck. I was overwhelmed with saying goodbye to a city and its people I had grown comfortable with and come to love. And then there was Athens. Two of the best years of my life. I became comfortable in own skin, leaned into the discomfort, and grew in more ways that I thought possible. Saying goodbye to Athens was tough but considering I came there with 15 fellow strangers and was leaving with most of those strangers who became family made it seem ok. How could life be topped? St. Louis. A city I was looking forward to exploring and getting to know as I began a new chapter, my first in the midwest.
I remember vividly my first year and a half in St. Louis I was finding my way and feeling like I was enjoying myself but not necessarily thriving. But the city treated me well and in this last year, I have grown to call it home and the people here my extended family. I've been saying goodbye a lot recently as I set out on a new chapter to New Orleans tomorrow. And I am beyond excited for this new chapter. That I can assure you (and myself). In a perfect world, I'd be able to take my family from here down to New Orleans with me. Unfortunately, the world isn't perfect. And so I've found myself giving many hugs recently, reassuring friends we will stay in touch, telling colleagues and students how grateful I am for my experience here, and allowing myself to reflect on this experience and shed a tear or two when needed to process and to mourn the loss of seeing certain people in the day to day. I know from experience that the relationships that are meant to last will and the ones that are not will fade though will always remain part of my story and my chapter here.
I said goodbye this morning to a student who literally has been my next door neighbor and my right hand man since July 2011 including summers. I've come to see him as a little brother I've grown fiercely protective of and am proud to call him a friend. And watching him tear up a bit, I knew the day would be long and the emotions heavy. But there's something freeing in just allowing yourself to feel unapologetically. It's authentic and vulnerable. Brene Brown would be proud.
Goodbyes are hard. But if it came down to having the people to miss versus not ever knowing those people, I'll take the goodbyes any day. I just wish they weren't today.
Cheers.
I remember vividly my first year and a half in St. Louis I was finding my way and feeling like I was enjoying myself but not necessarily thriving. But the city treated me well and in this last year, I have grown to call it home and the people here my extended family. I've been saying goodbye a lot recently as I set out on a new chapter to New Orleans tomorrow. And I am beyond excited for this new chapter. That I can assure you (and myself). In a perfect world, I'd be able to take my family from here down to New Orleans with me. Unfortunately, the world isn't perfect. And so I've found myself giving many hugs recently, reassuring friends we will stay in touch, telling colleagues and students how grateful I am for my experience here, and allowing myself to reflect on this experience and shed a tear or two when needed to process and to mourn the loss of seeing certain people in the day to day. I know from experience that the relationships that are meant to last will and the ones that are not will fade though will always remain part of my story and my chapter here.
I said goodbye this morning to a student who literally has been my next door neighbor and my right hand man since July 2011 including summers. I've come to see him as a little brother I've grown fiercely protective of and am proud to call him a friend. And watching him tear up a bit, I knew the day would be long and the emotions heavy. But there's something freeing in just allowing yourself to feel unapologetically. It's authentic and vulnerable. Brene Brown would be proud.
Goodbyes are hard. But if it came down to having the people to miss versus not ever knowing those people, I'll take the goodbyes any day. I just wish they weren't today.
Cheers.
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