Goodbyes don’t have to be a sorrowful affair

Have you ever taken time to appreciate those around you unconditionally? Like someone once said, you may never know how important something was, until you lose it. I have always seen people fight for the position of ‘being the last to talk to the deceased’ as if it would make any difference! People wondering how someone could slip out of reach after their communication.

The same way, I have seen people throw their hands in the air and swing their stiff hips as they walk away from people they think are not important to them. Well, someone might be of less importance to you but the manner in which you part ways is equally important. Not because you are afraid of Karma, but because we all need that assurance that all is well. Like a night runner somewhere in the lakeside, your parting shot will always flash across your mind whenever you meet the person you parted ways with. This I learnt the hard way after I broke up a boyfriend.

Indeed, my late mother must have first given birth to my mouth before any other part of my body. I always had the tendency to think way after I had spoken and I had to humble myself to this ex I had massacred mercilessly with words during our break up. He just sat there listening as if my voice was a calm breeze blowing over the ocean, the nerve! The next time I met him was during a stampede when city askaris and hawkers were going for each other. I was walking next to a shop admiring my figure on the two-way glass walls wishing I was anywhere close to Akothee Madam Boss when I suddenly found myself on the ground. Efforts to regain my stability were futile until I got hold of someone’s foot and refused to let go.

I guess he realised I was not letting go and decided to help me up instead and shoved me inside the shop as he jumped in too. Only then did I realise that I was facing my ex. For a minute, I was confused about whether to thank him for helping me up or apologise for putting him down a while back. There and then, I changed my perspective on how to part ways. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, I always choose to walk out with dignity and with my head held high up.

It doesn’t matter whether you are walking away from the love of your life or the destroyer in your life. Just ensure that the moment you take the first step to walk away, you take it respectfully. As much as we care about tomorrow, no one really knows what it has for us. Always remember that when you do good to others, you do good to yourself and vice versa. A little courtesy will help reduce the number of regrets we see flying all over after a person’s departure. Personally, you will never even have an idea that I walked out of someone’s life when I meet them.

Of course unless God replays you the video. I have learnt to say bye while smiling -- no wonder my enemies are still my friends. Given another chance, I would still walk next to the shop, admire my figure and wait for a stampede just so I can do things right.

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