The true beauty about a "Goodbye" is not the actual moment, but it is the blood, sweat, and tears that go into that moment. "Goodbye." How special are you going to make it?
How much effort are you going to make to get to that person?
When it comes to a goodbye it's titled "Running Goodbye" because all the running you do just to say "Goodbye."
This is not for your own benefit rather it's to serve the purpose of closure for that person. It's to show that you took the time to find them and wish them a blessing, a take care, or a good luck. You have made a personal effort to wish them farewell and THIS is meaningful to these souls.
Overtime, I was not always great at "goodbye." I had interpersonal relationships end with goodbye, I did not have the right closure with a client, or I didn't put that extra effort to reach someone. With every single experience, we learn and with that poor goodbye hopefully comes a better one.
From my early twenties to now my early 30s, I have experienced wonderful growth and gaining knowledge on how important closure can be for a person. It's a moment that two people should always have together leaving that person feeling hopeful and in peace.
When it comes to this trip in Central America, each city encountered the Running Goodbye. I made every effort to inform people of my short time stay, I made a greater effort to make that time special, and I took the time to give a personal goodbye. There are always those cases where someone is sick, on a different schedule, in a different location, or just absent that last day. You focus on those that are present and know you did your best.
This may all seem like one big question mark.
"Well don't we just say bye to the tourists, the volunteers, the Director and maybe some locals working at the school?"
This is not what the Running Goodbye means. It's about
saying goodbye to a local culture, which you should me interacting with and learning from. It's about saying bye to the man at the bodega near your accommodation, the girl selling ice cream, the man packing up his horse each day, the single mom who is cleaning the floors at the place you get your juice, the people behind the counters, the janitor at your placement, the security guard at the bank, and the man shining shoes. The list goes on and on, but these real human beings of the culture you are exploring deserve the acknowledgement and attention.
Of course, they deserve a hello and a conversation first followed by a goodbye. It's not just a few people I am saying goodbye to rather I am saying goodbye to a city. I am running around trying to get to everyone in one to two days. Then I am sitting on the bus thinking, " I wish I got to say goodbye to Sister Francis."
When you meet and discuss with people from the street each and everyday, there are so many people that don't get a goodbye. The one thing they do get is your presence. They get to feel his spirit, exchange positive words, lend an ear for listening, feel encouraged or inspired, or again just given the attention is enough. Sometimes the job is just done with attention, sometimes it requires a bit more effort, and sometimes the interaction is just a one time thing. Personally, I know those people that I should be having closure with and leaving them with positivity and some inspiration. From up above, it's clear who I should be giving my time to, who needs that recognition, and who needs that closure.
When it comes to goodbye, be conscious of how much it can truly mean to a person and how simple it actually can be. Running around may not need to occur, but think of the effort you put into running. That effort could be how much you care about a culture and city.
When it comes to a goodbye it's titled "Running Goodbye" because all the running you do just to say "Goodbye."
This is not for your own benefit rather it's to serve the purpose of closure for that person. It's to show that you took the time to find them and wish them a blessing, a take care, or a good luck. You have made a personal effort to wish them farewell and THIS is meaningful to these souls.
Overtime, I was not always great at "goodbye." I had interpersonal relationships end with goodbye, I did not have the right closure with a client, or I didn't put that extra effort to reach someone. With every single experience, we learn and with that poor goodbye hopefully comes a better one.
From my early twenties to now my early 30s, I have experienced wonderful growth and gaining knowledge on how important closure can be for a person. It's a moment that two people should always have together leaving that person feeling hopeful and in peace.
When it comes to this trip in Central America, each city encountered the Running Goodbye. I made every effort to inform people of my short time stay, I made a greater effort to make that time special, and I took the time to give a personal goodbye. There are always those cases where someone is sick, on a different schedule, in a different location, or just absent that last day. You focus on those that are present and know you did your best.
This may all seem like one big question mark.
"Well don't we just say bye to the tourists, the volunteers, the Director and maybe some locals working at the school?"
This is not what the Running Goodbye means. It's about
saying goodbye to a local culture, which you should me interacting with and learning from. It's about saying bye to the man at the bodega near your accommodation, the girl selling ice cream, the man packing up his horse each day, the single mom who is cleaning the floors at the place you get your juice, the people behind the counters, the janitor at your placement, the security guard at the bank, and the man shining shoes. The list goes on and on, but these real human beings of the culture you are exploring deserve the acknowledgement and attention.
Of course, they deserve a hello and a conversation first followed by a goodbye. It's not just a few people I am saying goodbye to rather I am saying goodbye to a city. I am running around trying to get to everyone in one to two days. Then I am sitting on the bus thinking, " I wish I got to say goodbye to Sister Francis." 
When you meet and discuss with people from the street each and everyday, there are so many people that don't get a goodbye. The one thing they do get is your presence. They get to feel his spirit, exchange positive words, lend an ear for listening, feel encouraged or inspired, or again just given the attention is enough. Sometimes the job is just done with attention, sometimes it requires a bit more effort, and sometimes the interaction is just a one time thing. Personally, I know those people that I should be having closure with and leaving them with positivity and some inspiration. From up above, it's clear who I should be giving my time to, who needs that recognition, and who needs that closure. When it comes to goodbye, be conscious of how much it can truly mean to a person and how simple it actually can be. Running around may not need to occur, but think of the effort you put into running. That effort could be how much you care about a culture and city.
No comments:
Post a Comment