Brave Goodbyes

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.”
 Paul Coelho

Happy Monday! 

What a glorious weekend! I hope you were able to spend some time outside and soak in plenty of natural vitamin D. It was the kind of weather that makes it easy to live in SoCal!

Transitions are common denominators in our lives. We’re constantly transitioning from one phase to another. We see them as we grow and mature. We experience them when we promote in our careers. They happen when we witness our children moving through school and when our friendships take different shapes. And, of course, we see them when we move on from people, jobs, emotional and mental healing, and during times of loss.

Sometimes, we are fearful and must find ways to gain the courage to persevere to the next stage. Other times, we’re angry and must be careful not to make rash decisions that might negatively impact us. Still, other times, we reflect on the time spent in each relationship or situation, reminiscing about the ups and downs and ultimate conditions that led to the change.

In these instances, we face the choice of remaining in a condition of unrest or embracing the new while fondly considering what’s gone before. These are opportunities to see the unknown as exciting and positive additions to the fabric of our lives. When we look back on what’s been with gratitude and look forward to what’s to be with wonder, we can move on with a heart filled with appreciation for both.

Paul Coelho shared this sentiment:

Yes, there’s a certain bravery that’s involved in ensuring positive goodbyes. We must face our fears of leaving our work, cherished friendships, or loved ones behind, but we also have the pleasure of welcoming the new hello with confidence, joy, and wonderment. We have the option of being sad and dragging through the transition or embracing the unknown with excitement and anticipation. Transitions can be phenomenal when we happily anticipate the new hellos while expressing our brave goodbyes.

There’s a passage in Scripture that I reflect on often. It talks about how we fondly remember people and experiences, even when we’re not in the best space. We hold the tension between what was and what is and hope for what will be. It’s the essence of transition. Let me share it with you here:

A Love That Will Grow

^3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

^7-8 It’s not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!

Philippians 1:3-8 (MSG)

You see, even when we’re not in the dire straits in which Paul found himself, we still have challenges facing transitions – goodbyes – and that’s really okay. When we permit ourselves to feel the feels, we can embrace our emotions with honesty and transparency. We can reflect on all the variables in our lives with a sense of peaceful anticipation of what might come our way. We can relax knowing we’re equipped and prepared for our new hellos.

My challenge to all of us this week is to look for positive ways to face transition or walk alongside someone else who is saying their own goodbyes! Let’s remain present and accessible and keep reminding ourselves of the beauty and excitement of witnessing something new, something that might actually change our lives for the better. And let’s not forget to be grateful as we learn to embrace the unknown!

Be Well & Be Blessed!

Lucinda