A lot is changing for not only me, but also all the new incoming students this fall season due to our freshman year of college. My change calls for a 4,899-mile trip from the island of O'ahu, to the city of New York. Change is not something I'm good at handling, and honestly, I would go as far as saying I loathe change. So, you're probably wondering, "Why move to a city that's completely different from your hometown?" That's a good question. But it is so much more than moving homes, it's how to say goodbye to anything that you've held close to your heart.
Saying goodbye to Hawaii and to my family will always be hard, and it will never get easier for me. As I pack up my room and watch as the movers take away all of my furniture, I am hit with the fact that I will never live on this beautiful island ever again. It hits me like a ton of bricks. It gives me an indescribable feeling. On the other hand, I am excited to venture off this tiny island to the city of endless possibilities and opportunities.
It doesn't only have to be about moving. Your whole entire existence, you will have to part ways with people, places, or objects that you've held dear, whether it's by nature, or simply by choice. Growing up, your parents probably told you to say goodbye to the tattered teddy bear that you've grown so fond of (at least that's how it was for me).
As the years go by, you have to part ways with more and more: friends, boyfriends, sisters, brothers, family members. So how do you cope with saying goodbye? It's easy. You don't.
Saying "goodbye" is a term used to end a conversation, a friendship, a relationship, etc. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's good to say goodbye, but you don't have to say goodbye if you don't want to. As I was saying, saying "goodbye" is an end to something. The only step to saying goodbye is to not say goodbye. In actuality, what are you ending? Nothing. I have to tell myself constantly that my memories will always be with me, in my mind and in my heart, and they will never fade. When my hair turns into the color of a storm cloud or the color of fresh snow, I will still remember the smell, touch, and feel of my tattered teddy bear or the smile on my best friend's face when I surprised her for her birthday, and even the feeling of the Hawaiian sand in between my toes and how frustrating it was to get it all out of my hair.
So, the next time you're feeling sad, nervous, or anxious about a big life change, don't fret, because life is what you make of it. Don't think about the "see you laters" and "goodbyes," think about all of the "hellos" and "nice to meet yous." Lastly, remember that if you live life afraid, you won't get a chance to experience the beauty of it all.
