Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Tired of Goodbyes

Over the past year a lot of friends and acquaintances have left Chicago. Tisher's moving was the hardest to take, the biggest adjustment, the most surprising. After that it gradually became almost rote. Still emotionally effecting but natural. There comes a point in life, late 20's/early 30's(at least in the case of my peers), when you ask yourself certain questions. What's next? What path do I want to follow? What do I truly want? And whether the answer is motivated by family, career, adventure, ambition what-have-you it frequently necessitates a geographical change.

In movies goodbyes are always profound and cathartic. People say important and articulate things. Often the partings are final. Real life isn't like that. You convey your affection and care but there is rarely, in my experience at least, any weighty words or stunning reveals. If you expect something cinematic you will be disappointed. You don't need a dramatic interaction to prove what someone means to you. If you have appropriate expectations you'll get all the closure you need.

Goodbyes are important, telling people you love that you love them is important, wishing people well at the beginning of a journey or a big life change is important. But farewells are almost never momentous or partings lasting. You never know what directions lives may take, how they may diverge, or when they may come back together. And no matter what the future may hold you always have the memory of the person with you, so in a way they never actually leave.

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