How to tell friends you’re moving far away
Q: You’re moving far away and aren’t good at saying goodbye, how can you leave gracefully?
A: Share the news in person. As with any important communication, it’s the delivery that matters. This is not an occasion to blast a blanket email to your nearest and dearest, catching them off guard and leaving them defenseless.
■ Host a thank you party. Celebrate your crew members by hosting a thank-you party to acknowledge them. Inevitably, any time we move on we are left with a sense of loss. A gathering allows everyone an opportunity to express gratitude and tie up loose ends; this provides a blanket of goodwill and leaves everyone with a feeling of closure.
■ A token of appreciation. Shower those who’ve meant the most with a small gift and a card.
■ Stay in touch on social media. One of the benefits of social media is our ability to get an inside peek at each other’s lives through images and videos that allow us to see and experience those we care about even when we’re apart.
—Lisa Gaché, etiquette expert and founder of Beverly Hills Manners
A: Start by deciding who is important for you to have this conversation with. Give yourself (and others) plenty of time to process and grieve this transition. Setting up intentional plans will give you the time to prepare and think about who, what and how you want to share. Do not be hard on yourself for “missing” someone. You are going through a lot.
■ Offer reassurance, not only for them, but for yourself. Share changes that you can commit to!
■ Create a plan ahead of time to visit after settling in. Creating a plan can minimize a lot of worry and fear about the future.