The art of saying goodbye: leaving friends, family and habits behind

The art of saying goodbye: leaving friends, family and life behind

Saying goodbye - the first step towards a new chapter

Saying goodbye is one of the most difficult moments in life, especially if you are going abroad for a long time or even a whole year. It is the beginning of a new chapter, but also the moment when you have to leave everything familiar behind.

When I think about saying goodbye to my family, I feel a little queasy at the moment. No longer being able to have the daily support of family members will certainly be challenging for me. But the possibility of still being able to write to them is reassuring.

The emotional aspect: what it means to leave people behind

Saying goodbye to friends and family brings with it a flood of emotions - sadness, anticipation, fear and hope. The thought of not being part of the everyday lives of the people you love for a certain period of time can be particularly difficult.

• It helps to see goodbyes not as a final ‘goodbye’, but as a ‘see you soon’.

• Consciously say goodbye to the most important people in your life. Perhaps with a farewell dinner or a letter expressing your feelings.

I will also have a conscious farewell dinner in the evening, perhaps with a note or two that I leave behind.

Saying goodbye to habits and routines

It's not just people you leave behind - you also leave behind your everyday life, familiar places and the little rituals that give you a sense of security. This can feel overwhelming, but it is also an opportunity to discover something new.

• Saying goodbye is also an opportunity to rethink old habits.

• Every farewell is the beginning of a journey where you get to know yourself better.

For me, the year in Japan is a special opportunity to put aside my bad old routines and grow, which is why saying goodbye to my everyday life is not a problem for me, but rather something I look forward to.

Challenges and opportunities: what you can gain from saying goodbye

Even if goodbyes are difficult, they harbour a valuable lesson: you learn to let go and open yourself up to new possibilities. By distancing yourself from the familiar, you create space for personal growth and new perspectives.

• Farewells offer the opportunity to get to know yourself anew.

• The distance allows you to strengthen your appreciation for what you have.

I will take the opportunity to get to know myself anew, away from familiar influences. Who am I and what makes me who I am? There could hardly be a better place to find out than faraway and exotic Japan.

Tips for a conscious farewell

A few small rituals and practical tips can help to make saying goodbye easier:

1. Plan a conscious farewell: plan in advance how and with whom you want to say goodbye. This will give you enough time to concentrate on all the important people and things.

2. Create opportunities for communication: Let your loved ones know how they can stay in touch with you - be it through regular video calls, messages or even letters.

3. Create memories: Take small mementos with you - photos, letters or personal items that give you strength and comfort.

Conclusion: saying goodbye as the start of a new adventure

Saying goodbye is never easy, but it is also the start of something new. Every step into the unknown brings challenges, but also opportunities that we would otherwise never have experienced.

As I described in my article on ‘The art of packing’, good preparation helps to minimise your own fears of a new beginning. Consciously saying goodbye is part of this preparation - and the basis for starting a new adventure full of confidence and anticipation.

Click here for my article on "The art of packing"