I don’t like good-byes. I don’t think anyone does, really. Good-byes mean changes, and no one likes those either. However, if we never said good-bye to anything, that would mean we were never going anywhere. If we are never changing, that means we are never growing. There is a word we use for something that never moves or grows. That word is dead.
Having said that, this last week and a half is full of good-byes for me. I have lived in Florida longer than I previously lived in Chicago (28 years vs. 11). Furthermore, I have lived here for all my important life milestones – marriage, children, college, and work. I have attended the same church this whole time, and my best friend has been my best friend since I arrived. I’ve worked in the same school district for a decade working part-time in the same restaurant for the same decade. That is a lot of stability. I am confident that this is the right time for me to go, but that doesn’t mean that I am not sad about leaving. This week, I am busy trying to see people one last time before I go. I have dinners, lunches, and of course – runs scheduled with various individuals. I have a going-away party scheduled for this weekend. I have plans to spend quality time with my kids, since neither of them will actually be living in the city with me. Although I have (sort of) adjusted to my daughter living away at school, this is the first time I will be away from my son. As I’ve been making the rounds, I have been telling people that this is not a permanent good-bye; it is just a temporary one. I know I’ll be back. I know I’ll actually be back quite often. Although for years I have been counting the days until I could return to the city, ultimately I have ties to this community that run deep. They have helped mold me into the person I am today, and I really like the person I turned out to be. Yes, there have been many turbulent times, but those periods have only made me stronger, more focused, and better equipped to accomplish my future goals. Knowing all this makes the rounds of good-byes easier. That’s what this part of my journey is all about, and it is exciting and frightening at the same time. I am alive; therefore, I grow. I change. I say good-bye (or at least, “See you later).
Words from the Long Run 