It’s Hard to Say Goodbye

Unlike Sam Smith, I’m not too good at goodbyes.

It’s time to say goodbye… again. Life has a way of pushing us forward, often away from people we once saw every day, people who became part of our routines, our inside jokes, our small talk and support systems. And if you’re anything like me, those goodbyes never get easier.

When Familiar Faces Fade

I get attached to people, especially the ones I see almost daily. Think of your classmates, coworkers, teammates, teachers. The ones you didn’t necessarily expect to matter to you, but did. The ones who became part of your days, your habits, your environment—until they weren’t.

One of the hardest goodbyes I’ve ever had to face was the last day of high school. I didn’t want it to end. After years of feeling like an outsider, I had finally found my place. I had friends and teachers who accepted me for who I was. I was enjoying school for the first time in my life. My grades were better than ever, I had finally found a girls football team at school and I had made a bunch of friends.

As senior year drew to a close, I felt something unfamiliar: grief. Everyone else was excited for what came next, but I was still mourning what I was about to lose.

We were the class of 2013, and the school hosted a Hawaiian-themed farewell day. We laughed, played games, wore ridiculous skirts and leis. But as the final moments approached, balloons rained down, the goodbye song started playing and suddenly the joy turned to tears. We all cried, because deep down we knew: this was the end of something special. That was the last time I walked through the halls as a student. The last time I saw some of those people.

12 years later, many of them are still just memories. People who made a mark on a specific chapter of my life and then disappeared from it completely.

Goodbyes Beyond School

Saying goodbye isn’t just about school or graduation.

I felt this again when I left Lebanon and the coworking space that had become my second home. I had shared so much with that community from daily routines, laughter, outings and countless lunches. Some of those people are still close friends, but others were simply left in my past.

My farewell at the coworking space in Lebanon

Now, as a remote worker working from home for over two years, I’ve watched people come and go from the company—teammates I saw daily over Zoom, who became anchors in my day. And each time one of them left, it hurt more than I expected.

This newsletter was actually inspired by a coworker who recently left. I keep thinking about how we used to chat in the mornings, how she was part of my digital office world. And now, just like that, she’s gone. We may never speak again. And even though it happens often in the workplace, it doesn’t get easier.

Why Goodbyes Hurt

It’s not just about the people, it’s about what they represented in your life.

They were there during a specific time, in a specific place, and once they're gone, it feels like you're letting go of more than just them. You're closing a door on a piece of your own story.

Humans are wired for connection. And the people we spend our days with, even if they’re not close friends, become part of our lives.

And then life shifts. People move. Graduate. Quit. Relocate. And suddenly, the cast of your life changes again.

It’s painful. But it’s also part of living.

The Gift of Forgetting (and Remembering)

The beauty and curse of being human is that we forget. The ache softens over time. We move on, form new connections, adapt to new environments. But every now and then, a memory resurfaces. And with it, a twinge of sadness.

Every goodbye reminds me how precious (and temporary) human connection is. And while I know I’ll be okay, I still feel it deeply each time.

What About You?

Do you get attached to the people you see on a regular basis?

Do you still think about someone who used to be part of your daily life even if you were never that close?

How do you navigate the pain of letting go when life pulls you in different directions?