How to Move on with the Rest of Your Life

“Sometimes moving on with the rest of your life starts with goodbye…” It's a tough realization when you know you have to say goodbye because you’re forced to admit you’re moving on and leaving things behind. It’s without a doubt one of the most complicated things that people are forced to face in their lives. Some goodbyes are joyfully anticipated, like when this awful math class will end (I live for the day!). Some goodbyes are just there and pass unrecognized, like when, I don’t really know, I didn’t recognize when they passed. Others are very painful, like moving to another country and saying goodbye to friends. Still others you think you’ll never recover from but in time they too fade into the past.

What many people don’t realize about life overseas is how it's divided into a series of goodbyes. Some moves are very painful and it’s a constant cycle of grief and I’ve known people who enter into serious depression because of it. People who don’t share our lifestyle often judge us for these emotions and sentiments saying it’s only a move, it’s not like anyone died. But in fact, a lot died. The events you were part of, the people as you know them, the places as you saw them and the joys that you counted everyday are all gone. The world you created and lived has died forever. I think we’re quite justified in remorse because the more you invest in something, the more pain you’ll feel when you move on. Sometimes moving on betrays the world you left behind and this is also something we’re forced to face.

If I have learned anything about life as a TCK, it’s that it’s okay to be sad and it’s okay to move on. You pack your suitcase, look over your souvenirs, thank God for the memories and joys, collect as many email addresses as possible and turn your face in whatever direction the next challenge is.

You can’t live in the past, that’s why we say we’re moving on. The hard thing is moving on with the rest of your life and sometimes it “starts with goodbye…”