Breathe Magazine Issue 073 Back Issue

‘Sorry seems to be the hardest word,’ lamented English singer-songwriter Elton John in his 1976 hit of the same name. Few would dispute the sentiment regardless of the reason behind it. Other words are challenging too – asking for ‘help’ when life becomes overwhelming, giving a firm ‘no’ to a friend’s or manager’s request to take on ‘just one more task’, saying ‘yes’ to venturing out of one’s comfort zone.
And what about saying ‘goodbye’, be it to someone, somewhere or something important? Sometimes there’s no choice – a sudden bereavement demands a final goodbye while at the same time denying the opportunity to do so when the person is still alive. But many stem from personal decisions: placing thousands of miles between loved
ones to build a new life in another country, retiring from a fulfilling
but demanding role to make more room for friends and adventure
while health permits.
They’re rarely easy decisions, and the outcome is never assured. Any change – big or small – involves risk and, potentially, disappointment. Life on the other side of the world, for example, could present challenges that feel insurmountable for those who’ve always relied on a strong support network, while a glut of spare time might prove dull and meaningless for someone whose identity and purpose has been strongly attached to their career.
But saying goodbye is part of life. Sometimes it’s actively chosen, as with emigrating or retiring, other times less so. Few knowingly wave goodbye to childhood, for example, and friendships are often subconsciously let go rather than deliberately ended. Either way, a new chapter is begun and no one can predict for certain how the story will continue. So, maybe as well as ‘goodbye’, let’s all wish each other ‘good luck’ and endeavour to avoid the need to say ‘sorry’.