Fear. Fear they will forget. Fear that they will find someone else. Fear that the relationship might change. Fear that you will never see them again. Fear of the pain that comes with missing someone. Fear is what makes saying goodbye so hard. The hardest thing with goodbyes is that they are inevitable. At one point or another, we will say goodbye to every person or place within our lives. The uncertainty that is felt when we say goodbye is scary. When we experience goodbyes we understand that our whole lives will be affected by the change.

As for me, I am a new high school graduate. "Goodbye" seems to be defining my life right now. I am saying goodbye to my high school, my teachers, my soccer team, my friends, my best friends, my boyfriend, my church, my hometown and my family. I am basically saying goodbye to everything I have ever known. This feeling is often tough to put into words. Often times this feeling is expressed through something that is as inevitable as goodbyes themselves, tears. Being sad about saying goodbye is okay. And being afraid of goodbyes or change is also okay! Being sad and scared of goodbyes is a natural reaction.

Instead of focusing and dwelling on the sadness of saying goodbye, focus on the memories that were shared. Yes, you will have to say goodbye to everything you know, but aren't you thankful that you knew all of that in the first place? Yes, the relationships that we have to leave behind will change, but aren't you glad you developed them? Goodbyes and changes are refreshing in a strange way. They cause us to have to get out of our comfort zone.

Goodbyes and change both force growth within us and we are to determine whether or not that growth will be negative or positive. All of our fears may or may not be justified, because there will be pain when we miss something or someone, and there is a chance we may never see what we miss again. Goodbyes allow us to know who our real friends are and realize what is truly important. All of this knowledge just gives us all a reason to cherish the things that we know now and embrace our new beginnings.