Life, when you look at it, is pretty much a sequence of goodbyes.  We say goodbye when relationships end, when people move away, when changing jobs, and when someone passes - often without notice.  These things all happen pretty frequently so it's probably worth getting good at saying goodbye.
 
Another thing that's worth doing is getting plenty of hellos.  Our Aunty, who turned 100 earlier this year, is full of life yet the longer she lives the more goodbyes she must inevitably make.  What's her secret?  I believe it's the hellos.  Aunty still performs, playing piano at nursing homes for many much younger residents, providing her with a constant stream of hellos.  Meeting new people, making friends with some but not all of them.  She also has an ever increasing number of great grand children, and she knows them all.
 
Being too settled can make us think we can't say goodbye, just one more reason for avoiding change in our lives.  But the saying when one door closes another opens applies to many situations, provided you're looking towards the new door not back at the closed one.  Leaving an old job can sound scary, but starting a new job is exciting.   Saying farewell to colleagues, family or friends feels sad, but meeting a whole new group of people is interesting.  Being the one who stays, when someone else leaves is often more difficult than leaving and a strong support network, built through hellos, can really help.

Changing neighbourhoods can also feel quite daunting, and you don't always want to become instant best friends with your neighbours.  But there are plenty of other people in the community you can connect with – at the local shops, the library, the gym or swimming centre.  It doesn't take long to become a familiar face and begin to enjoy that sense of recognition again.
But the unexpected goodbyes, the sudden departure of a loved one, these are the most difficult.  There's no warning, no chance to say how much they mean to you, to give them one last hug.  However preparing for these offers you the most opportunity. 

For those people you assume will always be there, that you sometimes take for granted, there will come a goodbye.  That's just how life is, so consider that they next time you see them.  Make the most of your time with them, be fully present (not distracted on your phone or by problems), tell them what you like or love about them.  Make sure they know now how you feel and it's not left until you're farewelling them, lest you part without them knowing.  After all, you don't know which one of you will be going first.
 
So make today a day that matters.  Make some new hellos, or reach out to someone you already know and let them know how much they mean before it's time to say goodbye.



This Beatles clips can be a good reminder:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblYSKz_VnI

We just spent a glorious morning walking along the coast before stopping for a bite at a local cafe.  While it felt rather indulgent taking three hours out for breakfast, it also seemed like an opportunity not to be missed.  You see this weekend sits between two significant events - the funeral of an uncle in his seventies and the 100th birthday of an aunt.  Not surprisingly, the closeness of these two occasions made me somewhat reflective about how I’m choosing to spend my minutes, days, and years.
 
Pondering what I’d like to remember at the end of my life, I came up with some pretty familiar concepts:  immersing myself in nature, connecting with spirit, and loving unconditionally.  Basically, spending my time as a human being, not a human doing.  So how do I approach that?
 
Every thought we have creates an energetic imprint.  That’s how some people can read jewellery, tell you what happened in a haunted house, or just walk into a room and feel the tension.  So I figure the best way I can spend my life is by leaving as many positive imprints as I can.  
 
You create positive imprints when you’re happy.  Doing things that put you in flow with the universe, practicing gratitude, being kind to others, all create positive imprints.  Whereas giving until you are depleted, doing what you think is expected of you, or losing yourself in technology, conflict, or addictive behaviours will create negative imprints.
 
For me, treading softly on the planet, cultivating beautiful relationships, nurturing those close to you are all simple ways to generate an abundance of positive energy vibrations.  But being able to do those things, often means putting your own health and happiness first.  Sometimes this may feel indulgent, even selfish but making sure you’re in the best mood you can be in is often the simplest way to create beautiful, vibrant, low impact energy imprints to share with the planet.  And if that means allowing three hours for breakfast, so be it.
 
What about you?  What can you do to put yourself in a place of bliss to energetically give back to the planet?