Tuesday Thoughts And Every good Bye started with a hallo

Hi Friends,

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." — A.A. Milne

As a German transplant to the United States, I've learned that making friends isn't usually the hardest part. Keeping them close can be.

When I first moved here at 21, I imagined friendships would naturally become lifelong relationships. But over the years, I discovered something that seems especially common in America—people move. They relocate for new jobs, retirement, family, or simply a new adventure. Before you know it, another dear friend is packing boxes and heading to another state.

Every goodbye has left a little ache in my heart.

There have been moments when I wondered if it was worth investing in new friendships at all. Why open my heart again if there's a chance that, in a few years, we'll be saying goodbye?

Then I came across A.A. Milne's simple but profound words:

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

What a beautiful way to look at it.

The sadness isn't proof that the friendship wasn't worth it. It's proof that it was.

Every friend who has walked beside us, shared laughter over coffee, celebrated our victories, cried with us through heartbreak, or simply listened when we needed someone, has left our lives richer than they found them. Distance doesn't erase those memories.

Of course, staying connected across the miles takes effort. Life gets busy. Time zones, grandchildren, work, and full calendars often get in the way. Some friendships naturally fade, while others somehow pick up exactly where they left off, even after months without talking.

I've learned that friendship isn't measured by geography. It's measured by love, shared history, and the willingness to keep reaching out.

That brings me to another quote I've carried with me:

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

If we long for connection, sometimes we have to be the one who sends the first text.

The one who invites someone to lunch.

The one who introduces herself at church, a class, or a community event.

The one who follows up after meeting someone new instead of assuming they're too busy.

The older I get, the more I realize that many women are quietly hoping someone else will make the first move. We often assume everyone already has their circle of friends, when in reality, many of us are looking for exactly the same thing: someone to laugh with, confide in, and simply do life with.

Yes, making friends requires courage. And yes, sometimes we'll have to say goodbye.

But I would rather fill my life with meaningful friendships, even if some eventually become long-distance, than protect my heart so carefully that I miss the joy of knowing wonderful people altogether.

So today, I'm choosing to keep opening my heart.

To keep reaching out.

To keep being the kind of friend I hope to find.

Because every friendship, whether it lasts a season or a lifetime, is a gift worth receiving.

What about you? Has someone moved away who left a lasting mark on your life? Or is there someone you've been meaning to reach out to? Maybe today is the perfect day to send that text.I've decided that every goodbye is simply proof that I was brave enough to say hello. And that's a risk I'll keep taking.

PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a more confident you.

You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.

Until next time,

Isabelle

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