Sunday 30 May 2021

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

 Leaving is often viewed as an end, when it is actually a new beginning.

Sometimes sad, having to start a new chapter with  key character missing, but often it brings many new improvements, even if it takes us awhile to appreciate them.

For me, I used to think most of 'leaving' destinations. Far flung places, sad I may never get to return to them. When I first read the prompt that was what popped into my head, but it feels slightly irrelevant nowadays.

In this strange holding pattern, I've left a lot of things I took for granted. All the wonderful things I got to see and do that now are blocked from our shores.

I look forward to leaving this COVID restrictive world behind, but with that, I hope that the door, when it opens, reminds me of how lucky I am.

My kids will leave the house soon, and I hope I welcome the view into their adult lives from afar. I hope I am not too sad when I leave that part of my life. It's been the major focus of my existence for more than a third of my life. I don't get to choose when I leave, others leave me, yet my role is diminished and a new routine will begin. I can't say I'm looking forward to it, but maybe I'll be surprised by something equally rewarding that grows in its place.

I guess I need to work on my focus, and remember as Winnie-the-Pooh said "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard".

Do you find it hard to leave? Do you see it as an end or a beginning?

Linking with  #FriendshipFriday


Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
loopyloulaura

16 comments:

  1. Leaving can be so hard Lydia. I found it very difficult when 15 years ago, I left my hometown to move awY to where I knew nobody. Fortunately the experience of starting over and making a new life has brought riches I never could have imagined before the move.

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  2. I see as both. An ending and a new beginning. As for the kids leaving the nest. I cried for a few days and then about two weeks of a quiet home and fell in love with being kid free.

    Have a fabulous day and week. ♥

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  3. Leaving is bittersweet - as they say one door closes and another opens. The other saying is that you can't both leave and stay. If only we had hindsight before we did the leaving & we mightn't hang on so hard to what needs to be let go of - but then, I suppose, it wouldn't be called hindsight.

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  4. That Winnie the Pooh quote is just the best! Lovely thoughtful post :)

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  5. I'm so glad you're able to visit my blog again! I'm considering leaving my writing group right now. Hello is easier than goodbye. Except for visits to the inlaws and such!

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    1. But still writing?? I hope so. And yes, it was so weird. My virus checker blocked your site for MONTHS and suddenly, it just worked again. So weird.

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  6. I love how my prompts do give you food for thought. This was a beauty from you. I know you will find 'not parenting kids' a challenge for a while but then, you will find new things...and wonder how you ever fitted it all in. Thanks so much for being part of the Life This Week Community by linking up. I always appreciate my blogging friends comments on my post too. Have a great first week of June. See you next Monday I hope. The optional prompt is: Motivate. Denyse.

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    1. They do indeed. It's very easy to write what you want to write about but good exercise and often quite rewarding to have a topic someone else supplies....

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  7. Your posts are always so thought provoking#mischiefandmemories@_karendennis

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  8. Most of my experience of leaving or being left has been horrible to begin with then has often ended up being the best thing overall. When I think of leaving I tend to think of it as liberating.

    Katrina x
    #MischiefandMemories

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  9. I used to find leaving places and people quite difficult, but after having had to make some big changes and then experiencing those rewards of 'a new hello', I now feel more comfortable about the goodbyes, in general. That said, there are a couple of people in my life who I never want to leave, or be left by.
    Thank you for joining in with #KCACOLS! x

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  10. Love the Winnie the Pooh quote but its so right. It is really hard to leave something or someone you love. I think kids leaving home is a huge adjustment for anyone but a wonderful element of the circle of life too. #KCACOLS

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  11. I definitely need to reframe as endings as new beginnings, they always make me cry, even if they are happy endings. Thank you for helping me try and see endings differently. Josie #mischiefandmemories

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  12. As a preacher's kid turned military spouse, I've done more than an "average share" of leaving or being left behind. In some ways, saying goodbye doesn't get easier (I've written about this) but every goodbye is the beginning of our next adventure. #KCACOLS

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  13. Aww what a beautiful Winnie the pooh quote! It's hard leaving isn't it. I always feel like that after a trip to Disney - where we all feel light, giddy and carefree - but always so thankful to have been able to experience new and exciting things. Thank you for joining us for #mischiefandmemories with this thoughtful post xx

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  14. I think there is a big differenve from choosing to leave and being forced to leave. Change is hard but circumstances affect our mindset and response. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories

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