There’s no easy way to say goodbye. I thought I have had a lot of practice since I have moved or traveled across the world, states, cities, homes, offices, and schools in almost 20 years. But, my stomach would still crunch, and tears would well up uncontrollably at that moment when I knew that the second I turned my back, I would not see those people, places, desks, beds—again. As much as I tried to convince myself that... "it’s life, I have to move on" - my mind would race with questions like "am I making the worst decision?" "Will I see them again?" "What if I don’t like where I am going?" "Argh, I should have said..." - which were all too late!
I surrendered. I surrendered to the emotions, and I felt sad in that moment. I said my goodbyes and expressed my gratitude. I thanked them for the moments we got to spend together, the good and the bad, and for everything I got to learn, generate, and let go.
At the same time, my feet would walk where I needed to go. I could still move forward, even while my heart was processing my grief.
It sounds like you're going through an emotional toll of moving. It's completely understandable when leaving a place with so many cherished memories. Moving can be a bittersweet experience, but it's important to remember that you have the strength and resilience to adapt to new surroundings and create new memories. Allow yourself to connect and take the time to process your feelings. Remember that you can always hold onto the memories you've made and carry them wherever you go.
I love your analogy, likening us to houseplants 🪴 I’ve come to see each move as the start of a new season of life; some short, some long. And I find that transitioning between seasons requires I allow myself time to mourn. I tend to mourn in advance, anticipating how much I will miss a place, people, season. And I need that time; it’s finalizing, cleansing in a way. It allows me to start fresh at the next place. As an artist, I also try to take with me pieces of each place, photographs of how the light fell, short videos of my favorite moments, sketches of my favorite spots. Places we move from travel with us, shaping who we are as we move into what’s next. Mourning and savoring: that’s how I say goodbye.
I’ve moved apartments three times in the last five years, and though it was in the same city, it was always a bit said. As you said, deciding what to take with me, reevaluating my life to see which things no longer served a purpose, and getting to scan my bookshelves as I put my books in boxes to relocate them again and relive all the literary adventures I had experienced in that apartment. I’m actually due to move to another city in February, and it’ll be my biggest relocation since college. I’m excited but also pretty scared, I gotta say.
There’s no easy way to say goodbye. I thought I have had a lot of practice since I have moved or traveled across the world, states, cities, homes, offices, and schools in almost 20 years. But, my stomach would still crunch, and tears would well up uncontrollably at that moment when I knew that the second I turned my back, I would not see those people, places, desks, beds—again. As much as I tried to convince myself that... "it’s life, I have to move on" - my mind would race with questions like "am I making the worst decision?" "Will I see them again?" "What if I don’t like where I am going?" "Argh, I should have said..." - which were all too late!
I surrendered. I surrendered to the emotions, and I felt sad in that moment. I said my goodbyes and expressed my gratitude. I thanked them for the moments we got to spend together, the good and the bad, and for everything I got to learn, generate, and let go.
At the same time, my feet would walk where I needed to go. I could still move forward, even while my heart was processing my grief.
***
Thanks for the prompt! Enjoy your new home 🏡
I have moved 30 plus times in my life across 4 continents and 9 countries - never, gets, easier. Good luck with the move!
It sounds like you're going through an emotional toll of moving. It's completely understandable when leaving a place with so many cherished memories. Moving can be a bittersweet experience, but it's important to remember that you have the strength and resilience to adapt to new surroundings and create new memories. Allow yourself to connect and take the time to process your feelings. Remember that you can always hold onto the memories you've made and carry them wherever you go.
I love your analogy, likening us to houseplants 🪴 I’ve come to see each move as the start of a new season of life; some short, some long. And I find that transitioning between seasons requires I allow myself time to mourn. I tend to mourn in advance, anticipating how much I will miss a place, people, season. And I need that time; it’s finalizing, cleansing in a way. It allows me to start fresh at the next place. As an artist, I also try to take with me pieces of each place, photographs of how the light fell, short videos of my favorite moments, sketches of my favorite spots. Places we move from travel with us, shaping who we are as we move into what’s next. Mourning and savoring: that’s how I say goodbye.
Yuezhong, Welcome to your new home. I hope it gets filled with love and laughter. D
I’ve moved apartments three times in the last five years, and though it was in the same city, it was always a bit said. As you said, deciding what to take with me, reevaluating my life to see which things no longer served a purpose, and getting to scan my bookshelves as I put my books in boxes to relocate them again and relive all the literary adventures I had experienced in that apartment. I’m actually due to move to another city in February, and it’ll be my biggest relocation since college. I’m excited but also pretty scared, I gotta say.
Lots of tears! I’ve learned I’m deeply connected to place, so leaving can be especially hard.