Every goodbye is a reminder: you are already rich—in people, in moments, in connection.
If you’ve ever packed your life into a suitcase, hugged someone a little too long at an airport, or looked back at a house one last time before leaving—you know the taste of farewell. It’s salty. A mix of tears, gratitude, and the feeling that your heart is somehow too small to hold it all.
In the last years, I’ve said more goodbyes than ever before. New countries, new homes, new routines. And with them: new friends who became family, new streets that became “mine,” new little corners of the world that felt like belonging. And then—farewell again.
But here’s the twist: the more I had to let go, the more I realized how rich I actually am.
The Wealth of Less
Every time I move, I carry less. Less clothes, less material stuff, less “things.” And honestly? I’ve never felt lighter. Owning less made me notice how little I actually need to feel full. My wealth doesn’t sit in a closet. It sits in my heart, in the memories, in the connections.
Why Farewells Hurt
A farewell that hurts is actually a blessing in disguise. It means the people, the place, the time—it mattered. It mattered enough to carve itself into your story. The pain of leaving is also proof: you lived fully, you connected deeply, you loved.
Friends Across Borders
To have friends all over the world is a privilege I’ll never trade. They are my anchors in different time zones. They are my reason to keep exploring. They remind me that home is not just one place—it’s many. No movie, no book could ever inspire me the way real people I’ve met did.
My Three Biggest Learning’s About Farewells
- Farewell is respect.
Feeling the heaviness when leaving isn’t weakness. It’s a sign of how much I value the people and places I’m saying goodbye to. - Farewell is richness.
Crying when leaving shows I already own so many things. I have deep connections, moments of laughter, and nights of endless talks. I enjoy friendships worth aching for. - Farewell is not forever.
It’s rarely a hard goodbye. More often it’s a soft “see you soon, loved one.” The love stays. The connection stretches. And life, in its funny way, brings paths back together.
So yes…
…farewells hurt. But they also make us rich. Rich in people, in places, in stories. Rich in the simple truth. To feel the pain of goodbye means you were lucky enough to belong, even if just for a little while.
And maybe that’s the art of farewell: to let it break your heart and fill it at the same time.
With love,
Katja – Creator of HOMELESS
