As I walk the streets these days, the sound of “ritsch-ratsch” comes out of open windows, moving trucks are parked around many corners. A clear sign that summer holidays are about to start – and so does moving time for many. With 16 years on the go, summer time is kind of “same – same – but – different” every year.
- Sometimes you stay, sometimes you move
- Sometimes you are excited of what comes next, sometimes you are worried, concerned and anxious
- Sometimes you leave great friends behind, sometimes they leave you behind
- Sometimes all goes according to plan, sometimes not
- Sometimes you take it all in a stride, sometimes it is damn hard
- Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cry
No matter how often I experience this time, it’s always different, it always brings up different feelings and emotions.
This year I’m the one staying again. But it’s a summer with a huge turnover of friends, for myself and the kids. All three of them will be affected this time.
I’m excited for my friends, about the new places they will go to and experience. But I’m well aware that a lot will have changed once the new school year starts for us back here. It might feel a bit like a new start for us again, too – despite staying on.
Reaching the end of the school year you will give many, many hugs and send well wishes, with hope that friendships will remain. But knowing full well that often life happens and some friendships, no matter how close and dear they were, may not survive. Hope is always there but reality is often different. But that is part of this life, too. For every hello often comes as well a good bye. Friendships are always important but some happen for different reasons.
I had a discussion with my kids about how they feel about their friends leaving last summer and that discussion stayed with me, still today.
My daughter (then 8) said: “Yes, I am sad but I will be ok.”
My son (then 10) replied: “Yes, I am a bit sad, but this is our life. After all we have this every year and we have been ok.”
A moment that made me proud and broke my heart a bit at the same time. But, as long as we stay open to new people and still embrace friendships, reach out to newcomers, are open-minded when we move and ask for help when needed, we are ok, more than ok!
For now, I will fondly listen to the sound of movers packing when I walk the streets, enjoy every talk and memory I make with friends still here, be excited for what lies ahead for them, be open for a new – and old – beginning when school starts again here for us end of August.
Here is a big “cheers” to memories and friendships made and that we made a life like this happen.
To all moving, to all staying behind – I wish you all the very best and to new beginnings!
AK