The First Goodbye

As my time in Memphis dwindles to a few short remaining weeks, I find myself walking a tightrope of emotions. Some days I experience extreme jubilation about the excitement the future holds. Some days I experience extreme sadness about leaving a place with so many people who mean a great deal to me. It's an endless balance between real, deep emotions.

On Friday, I said my first goodbye to a friend in Memphis. He too has left the city and is searching for his next step. Like me, he's experiencing the same emotional pulls - the longing for family in a familiar place versus leaving a place where people touched his life in a short period of time - the balance between hello to the future and goodbye to the present.

Goodbyes come in many forms.

A casual hand shake, a simple thank you, a short hug... these aren't often too emotional because the relationship was probably casual.

But the gut-wrenching hug, the tears, the emotions so deep you can't even find the words to capture all you want to say... these are the tough goodbyes because the person means so much to you or has touched your life in a special way.

The hard reality for me is that I'll be saying goodbye to a great deal of people over the next few weeks, and some goodbyes will be more difficult than others. I feel truly blessed by the number of people who have been part of my life in Memphis. Whether I've known people for a few years or even just a few months, each person has taught me something or reminded me of something important in my life, and I am extremely thankful for those opportunities.

Yes, the goodbyes will be difficult, but they are also a testament to the life I lived here, one touched by many unique individuals and enjoyable moments. I am humbled to be able to walk away with this realization, that hopefully I have touched so many lives in Memphis in the same ways so many others have touched my life. It truly is a blessing.