Knowing how and when to say goodbye is often difficult, even in informal situations. But how to say goodbye in a thoughtful, thoughtful, and appropriate way is a skill that will help you maintain a relationship and let others know that you care. Sometimes parting words are easier than they seem. Keep reading to learn how to spot opportunities and assess the needs of others while you're away.
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Method 1 of 3: Saying Goodbye for the Short Term
Step 1. Know when to leave
When you're at a party or a meeting, or even a one-on-one conversation, sometimes it's hard to leave. Learning to recognize a good opportunity to leave will make it easier to say goodbye short term.
- Notice if people seem to be starting to dwindle. If more than half are gone, maybe it's time to say goodbye. Find a host, or your friends, wave, and off you go.
- Go when you want. You don't have to wait for any special cues. When you're ready to go home, or ready to leave the conversation, say "Well, I'll be going. See you later!"
Step 2. Pay attention to body language
Staying for long is impolite, but often hard to tell apart. People don't like saying they want you to leave, so try and see if there's a hint.
If the party host starts to clean up, or withdraws from the conversation, gather your friends or belongings and excuse yourself. If someone starts checking their watch, or looks agitated, that's also a good time to leave
Step 3. Make plans to meet again
Saying, "See you tomorrow at school" or "Can't wait to see you again next Christmas" makes for a light, forward-looking farewell. If you haven't already made a plan, take this opportunity to make one. Saying "See you soon" is already a sign of a plan.
Set up a coffee date or meet up for lunch later that week if it makes the breakup easier, but don't commit to anything you don't want. You can leave without any promises
Step 4. Tell the truth
Sometimes it's tempting to give a "good excuse" when you're ready to go. No need. If you want to leave, just say, "I have to go now, see you later." It doesn't need to be more complicated than that. If you want to get out of a conversation you're ready to end, "We'll talk later" is also sufficient.
Method 2 of 3: Saying Goodbye to Long Term
Step 1. Plan a good time to talk before departure
If someone you know is going abroad for a few years, or going to college, those planning times can be very busy and stressful. Set a definite time and place to meet and say goodbye. Similarly, prioritize the breakup if you're the one going. Don't make break-up plans with people you don't really care about and forget about your own sibling.
Pick a fun location – maybe over dinner, or take a walk at a favorite place, or spend time together doing something you both always enjoy, like watching a sports game
Step 2. Talk about the good times you've had
Tell the funniest stories again, reminisce about the happy things. Dig deep into your past: what you've done together, what's happened in your age of friendship, the time you spent together, maybe even how you first met.
Don't start saying goodbye the second you walk in. Assess his attitude about the breakup, or about your leaving. If the trip isn't what he expected, don't spend all the time asking him about his preparations. When he's excited, don't spend time whining about how much everyone will miss him. If your friends are jealous of your opportunity to work in France, don't waste time talking about it
Step 3. Open up and be friendly
It is important to establish the relationship status. If you want to keep in touch, say so. Exchange email (email), phone, and address information.
- Asking for an email address or phone number is entertaining, so you can talk to him, but also be honest. If you don't intend to keep in touch, don't ask for contact details. This can make the departing friend question your sincerity.
- Make sure your family knows your current location and status, and that you also find out about them before one leaves. Don't give the impression that you're withdrawing or disappearing.
Step 4. Make a short and sincere goodbye when the time comes
Most people don't like long, lingering goodbyes, so make it personal. If you need to express complicated feelings, consider writing a letter to read later. Personally, make the farewell light and pleasant. Hug, say your goodbyes, and wish him a safe journey. Don't linger.
If you're away for a long time and don't have everything with you, giving things is a good sign and strengthens the relationship. Let a bandmate keep your old guitar while you're away, or give a meaningful book to your sibling as a keepsake of you
Step 5. Continue the relationship
Maintain contact if you plan to keep contact. Talk on Skype or send funny postcards. If over time you lose touch with a friend or loved one who you really want to hear from, make an extra effort. If it seems that your friend is very busy, try not to get angry. Let things come back naturally.
Have realistic expectations about communication. Friends who go to college will make new friends and may not be able to keep a weekly call schedule
Method 3 of 3: Say Goodbye Forever
Step 1. Say goodbye now
Postponing a visit to the hospital to meet a loved one who is on the verge of death is always a mistake, just like waiting until the last day before a friend leaves the country for good. Don't miss the chance to say goodbye and brighten his final moments. Being alone in a hospital is a terrible place to turn a blind eye. Come to her side and say what you need to say. Spend as much time as possible with loved ones. Stay with him and support him.
Often times, dying people want and are deeply comforted by one of four specific words: "I love you," "I forgive you," "Please forgive me," or "Thank you."
Step 2. Do what feels right
We usually have the impression that death or separation "forever" must be something somber and unpleasant. But follow the example of the one who is leaving. Your role is to be by his side and comfort him when he needs it. If you are expected to laugh, or it seems appropriate, laugh.
Step 3. Tell the truth, selectively
Sometimes it's hard to know how honest we should be with people who are on the verge of death. If you visit an ex-spouse or relative who has somehow drifted away, there's bound to be a lot of pressure bubbling beneath the surface, and the complex emotions that go along with it. The hospital isn't the best place to get out of control and blame your dad for not being around.
- If you feel the truth will hurt the person leaving, be aware of that and change the subject. Say, "No need to worry about me now" and change the subject.
- Sometimes there is a desire to be overly optimistic, saying "No, there's still a chance. Don't give up" when your loved one says, "I'm dying." There's no point in saying something that no one knows for sure. Change the conversation by saying, "How are you feeling today?" or reassure him by saying, "You look good today."
Step 4. Keep talking
Always speak softly and say that you are speaking. Even if you're not sure he heard, say what you have to say. Farewells in death go both ways – make sure you don't regret not saying "I love you" one last time. Even if you're not sure he can hear you, just say so, and you'll know.
Step 5. Be present
Both physically and emotionally, be by his side. Sometimes it's hard not to overestimate a significant moment: "Was that the last time he said, 'I love you'?". Every moment can be tense and thrilling. But control yourself and try to enjoy the moment as much as possible: time with the people you love.
Often times, the person preparing to die has enormous control over the actual moment of death and will wait until he is alone to prevent his loved one from experiencing the pain of witnessing it. Similarly, many family members set a heart to be with, "until the end." Realize this and try not to put too much pressure on the last moment. Say goodbye when the time is right
Tips
- Remember, you can cry.
- It would be wise to reflect on the fact that while the world in front of you creates new beginnings, you can still connect with where you came from.
- If you lose someone you love, especially a family member, don't try not to think about it. Talk about him to people who also know and love him – tell funny stories, memories, habits and words.
- If the person "disappeared" but still appears on your radar time and time again without contacting you, don't beat yourself up about it. Sometimes people need a lot of space to work through their internal problems without being influenced by the past – just let them be and one day they will come back.
- Saying goodbye is sometimes more difficult when you view the breakup solely from your own perspective. To view the departure of that person from your life as something you can bear, you can place the unbearable burden on the person who is leaving and face your loss only if you have the ability to do so.
- When you say goodbye to your beloved girl, a hug is always better. Never leave him without a hug, or you will face his wrath.
