Waving Goodbye

Hello. 

The word goodbye, for me, has always been a bittersweet. When it’s set into motion, the aftereffect is a taint, sickening reality that always stings like a bee. On the other hand, sometimes saying goodbye to something can rid of it if it were to be an immoral, or maybe unnecessary, thing in life. Consequently, I’ve learned to treasure hellos every chance I get, because honestly the goodbye could be just around the corner. Living life to the fullest, giving everything a chance: it’s motivating to me.

I’m a really quiet and shy boy, so when I discover the opportunity of (or when I'm forced into) approaching someone new, I tend to stumble on my words out of my nervous habit or make a strange impression by not being outgoing or seemingly “welcoming.” But that’s something that has, in a good way, really grown onto me, for the better. Sometimes when I’m approached by others, I feel they went out of their way just to say hello to me. It’s cherishing. The word “hello” (or “hi” or “hey,” etc.) is such a warm, inviting expression, in my opinion. When put into action it visibly shows you're opening up to another individual. Goodbyes are a little more haunting and even more depressing, if you really allow them to get to you. But I think the problem is not that goodbye is such a strict, finishing word, if you will; I think instead the reasonable problem is that we assume the goodbye is final and concluding as far as relationships go. Maybe that’s just too pessimistic, and maybe negativity ruins it all. Maybe the next time you say goodbye, you should welcome new situations, just like you do with a hello.

A goodbye is just as warm and congenial; it’s a greeting, just as a hello is. We should treat it as such. So anytime I feel despaired by the fact that saying “so long” is an implication to never returning, I’ll remember there’s a reason for everything and that the darkest of hours are the times that God needs us to trust in Him most, because that’s when we’re least attentive. And the next time I’m cheerfully waving goodbye, I might realize how much heartache it can cause and how I may never see whoever it is again — but I can always hope… because maybe, in reality, that wasn’t the last goodbye. The world will still be spinning around, time will slowly go on as always, and perhaps I might say hello again.

Goodbye.