I just said a really hard goodbye to one of my very best friends. Rebecca, one of my friends from Wartburg, was in Des Moines for a work meeting so we got coffee and caught up on life, talked about the future, and most importantly, discussed what our friendship is going to look like over the next year (our conclusion was lots of pics of puppies, koalas, and memes, so maybe it won’t be that different after all…).
Rebecca has been one of my biggest supporters since the first day I met her four years ago at freshman orientation. I cannot tell you how many times throughout college we cried together. Sometimes it was because of sadness, but most of the time it was from laughing too hard. This coffee date was no exception. Thank goodness we were in a public space or I probably would have started straight up sobbing.
I am usually not one to use cheesy quotes, but this experience desperately calls for one:
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – Winnie the Pooh
Although I am far from ready to say the goodbyes that need to be said, I am so grateful that they are so painful. They are painful because the relationships are meaningful and I think that kind of pain is truly beautiful. My relationships with friends and family are going to look drastically different this coming year and knowing that makes the goodbyes even more difficult, but I find comfort knowing that I have such a large support system sending me out and even if we do not talk every day, week, or even month, when I return in a year I will be welcomed with the same amount of love and care that I am receiving now, it just might look a little different.
So thank you, to all my friends, family, mentors, and acquaintances for making these goodbyes so difficult. I cannot wait to share this journey with all of you.
Peace,
Katie.
Katie's YAGM Journey 