"My New Year's resolution this year is to slow down with endings. To be more intentional about the last moments of coffee catch-ups, birthday parties, family visits, or even work Zooms. To go beyond bye and make space for appreciation and love. It's been harder than I anticipated. The reflexes of "nice to meet you," "good catching up," and "love you" are so ingrained that even when I feel more, sometimes much more, I settle for a wave."
"My resolution has helped me remember the true power of goodbyes. We say goodbye constantly to strangers and loved ones alike. Precisely because they happen so often, they're powerful opportunities to step out of the logistics and content of moments and notice their deeper significance. And, with that awareness, goodbyes give us the chance to tell the other person, with our words, how much they mean to us."
Slow, intentional endings let people feel the meaning of moments and allow explicit appreciation. Move goodbyes earlier rather than squeezing emotion into rushed final seconds; name what shared time meant while still present. Use specific expressions of love such as "I love you because..." instead of brief, generic phrases. Recognize that habitual, automatic farewells often hide deeper feelings and leave others unaware of their importance. Goodbyes occur often and therefore offer repeated opportunities to step out of logistics, notice significance, and tell others, in clear words, how much they matter before time runs out.
Read at Psychology Today
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