It seems that our generation loves to say goodbye. Which other possible reason is there for doing it constantly? Finishing school: Saying goodbye. Going abroad: Saying goodbye to home. Coming back home: Saying goodbye to new friends. Going to university: Saying goodbye to home again. Finishing Bachelor’s degree: Saying goodbye. Finishing Master’s degree: Saying goodbye. And while we are doing that, we attend summer schools, workshops, sport academies and loads of other things where we also have to say goodbye in the end.

Back in the days saying goodbye was something serious, something special, something associated with soldiers or emigrants. There are tons of songs and poems about the pain of farewell. And today? Even though some goodbye’s are still harder than others, we are so used to leaving places and people behind that it doesn’t seem to really matter anymore. It is weird to think about it like this. Because a heart is incapable of building up a protective cover. Because we still devote ourselves to the moment, we enjoy the time, we build up friendships, sometimes love. But all of this happens under the knowledge that it is just for a certain amount of time. Usually that’s what makes it more intense. And at the end everyone promises to stay in touch, to meet again. Which usually won’t happen.

Honestly, why are we doing this to ourselves on a regular basis? Are we all emotional masochists? Maybe is it just the burden of our time, the price we have to pay for all the possibilities we have. We have the choice. We could stay home, spend all of our time with the same people at the same place. But that would be so – boring. And limited.

So maybe there is only one recipe against the farewell pain. Having a home, having good friends no matter how far away they might be. Having something to go back to. Because in this case the joy of reunion equalizes the pain of farewell. Hopefully.