Saying Goodbye

Saying goodbye, building bridges...

It is the last week of August and it is a sad thought that we will have to say goodbye to summer. ( Was she really here?) I will particularly miss paddling, I love settling into a rhythm with the wind and sun on my face, sitting on top of the water, feeling a oneness with the River. I will even miss braving the cold water to go swimming, ( kinda) and of course, I will miss the decadent bbq's, pontoon boat tours with family and friends, and travelling around this beautiful province we live in.
Thinking about saying goodbye to summer has prompted thoughts about saying goodbye in general. It occurred to me that our lives are made up of a series of goodbyes...goodbye to the home we grew up in, goodbye to friends, to our home town, to our children when they move out, and most difficult, goodbye to those we love who are no longer with us.
 As we move through life there are hundreds of doors we go through that force us to say farewell to people, places, and things. Some of the goodbye's are heart wrenching, others a relief, each one bringing it's own unique blend of feelings. When I think about all the goodbyes I have made, it is a little overwhelming, but also reassuring...each one paved the way for a new beginning, and each one helped me to grow a little stronger, more compassionate, and self aware.
 Writing about this has also made me realize that at the time of our goodbyes we are often too overwhelmed with emotion to fully appreciate the significance of the moment. Often it is with teary eyes we hug, clinging to whom ever and what ever we are saying goodbye. There is a sadness that pervades the going...it is as if our hearts are understanding the loss more quickly than our heads. It is often not until we take the time to reflect later that we can process what we really left behind. It is also when we have time to go through the stages of grieving, and see more clearly not only what we lost, but what has been gained.
Although saying goodbye is very difficult, letting go always seems to be cathartic. It is when we let go that we create a space inside for new light, love, and growth to enter. With each season's passing, Mother Nature reminds us that saying goodbye is a natural part of our lives and that whether we embrace it or not, change is inevitable. It is up to us what we do with it...hopefully we allow ourselves to grieve, process, and move forward with faith.
 Ironically, it seems to me that goodbye is more like a hello in many ways, for it is a moment when we meet those rather poignant feelings that, like a bridge, connect our hearts and souls to the special people and places we are leaving. So savour those goodbyes, they are some of the most precious moments in our lives!

goodbye 

so often is really hello

a moment

when we connect fully,

our hearts and souls
speak to us,
building beautiful bridges,

so the love 

travels with us...

penny bowman