When are we ready to say goodbye? Now? Later? Maybe that time has already come. To say goodbye is to leave everything of the past behind you. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? So why is it harder than it sounds? That’s because it is. We will never truly know when we must depart from our old life – our friends, our family, and all our loved ones. Sadness and grief intertwined and bound to our sorrows of just saying, “Goodbye for now.”

Maybe we aren’t saying that on our behalf. Sometimes we say that to see someone off, and sometimes it hurts just as much if we were in their place instead. This steers us to a more important thought: Is there something more important than sadness that exists in times of grief? In my experiences, I’ve learned that living on and marching forward is to forgive and forget, just like how growing old and learning through our mistakes is what makes being human beautiful. This is the path that everyone walks, so saying goodbye and embracing sad times like these is an experience that everyone has already been through on this journey set ablaze.

One may feel like digging their heels into the ground or biting their tongue, but the flow of time stops for no one. It will never patiently stand by and watch as you grieve and cry, nor will it lend its hand to help you when you’re down. Dry your eyes and look ahead, for the young buds must be allowed to bloom! We must continue to grow up and learn. We mustn’t let our emotions and tears get the best of us; it’s not right to allow a false motive to lead our future.

There’s more than sadness – there’s joy, anger, sorrow, dreams, passion, fury; the list goes on! We only feel the first one because it impacts us the most in that moment. Over time, we learn to overcome that sadness and live through our ups just as much as our downs. There will be no shoulder to cry on, neither will there be someone to help you, so you must stay independent and keep looking forward to that distant future ahead of you! Keep that flame within your heart always burning bright, until then.