Throughout this crazy thing we call life, there will be plenty of instances where you will be given the opportunity to leave. As a senior in high school, you have the opportunity to leave home and move away to college. In college, you have the opportunity to study abroad in a country halfway (or fully) across the world. After college, you will have the opportunity to chase your dream job and move anywhere in the world. And once you find the love of your life, you will have the opportunity to build a life with them somewhere new. The thought of leaving can either be completely exciting or completely nerve-wracking for people. It is very common that we fall in love with safety and security, which is often found in the comfort of places we have spent our lives living. For most, this is our parent’s house, or our small town that we lived in for our whole lives. Leaving this comfort may very well be the most terrifying thing ever done thus far, and may be met with guilt, anxiety, frustration and nerves. Nerves are inevitable, but guilt often meets us when it comes to leaving. But it doesn’t have to stop us.

When moving away, you are going to leave behind your house, your bedroom you created endless memories in, your family, your closest friends and the comfort of your life. You will feel guilty leaving those who stuck with you through it all, who gave up everything for you. You will leave behind your parents who sacrificed it all for your happiness, your extended family who loved you through it all, and your friends who have been through it all with you. You will leave behind love, for the selfish purpose of living out your own dreams. But in reality, those selfish feelings are tearing you up inside because you are putting your dreams and feelings in front of your whole support system. However, this is not how it should be. It is okay to branch out and fulfill your dreams. It is okay to move away and start your own life, somewhere completely new and fresh. It is okay to want change. Those around you will be sad, but overall, they will be happy for you. They want you to succeed and fulfill what you were made to fulfill. They want you to be the happiest that you can be. All of those positive feelings still won’t seem like enough when making those decisions, but they have to be.

Saying goodbye to what we know to embark on a new adventure is what life is all about. So whether it be moving away to college or moving across the country to follow a career path you always dreamed about, do it. Those you are leaving behind will still be there for you. Your home will still be there and your memories will still be there. You will not lose anyone, but instead, gain a stronger love of yourself and receive more love from those around you.

So if you are thinking about doing something outside of your comfort zone, do it. Don’t be sad for what you are leaving behind, but instead be exacerbated for what you are embarking on. After all, the goodbyes are not really goodbye, but are rather the “until we meet again’s.”