Among my friends, I’ve normalized just leaving. I don’t go around and say good bye to everyone. I literally tell one person that I’m leaving, merely to inform them so they can tell others I’ve left if they ask.

So I’ll literally turn to whomever is closest that I know, who isn’t also leaving, and just say I’m leaving, then go.

The story I’ve spun into all of the people I know, which I believe to be the case frequently is that: by making a big show of leaving, you’re basically asking for people to give you a reason to stay or convince you to stay. I don’t want either to happen, and I don’t feel the need to have any pageantry about departing. So I’ll just leave. I want to do that thing, so I’m going to go do that thing. I’m not going to talk about doing that thing, or make a big show of it, I’m just going to do it.

Listen, it’s ok to leave. I know you feel like you owe people some explanation or justification for leaving, but in reality, you do not. Just go.

I will add: this is a very simple idea/concept. That doesn’t, and shouldn’t, imply it will be easy for you, or anyone, to execute. Each person will have their own mental hurdles to get over with this, and I do not want anyone to think that I’m ignoring, or belittling that. Your feelings and challenges are real, legitimate, and valid.

This concept is simple and execution may be easy, or not, for you individually. You may need to restructure the way you think to adopt this, or you may accept it easily. I’m not going to assume what the experiences of everyone else is going to be.

Good luck, everybody.