Saying Goodbye

As we say goodbye to another year, it seems fitting to note the many ways we have for parting. Too many of us are pathetic at speaking a second language, but when it comes to good-byes, we are surprisingly multi-lingual:

• Adieu and Au revoir – French
• Adiós – Spanish
• Aloha – Hawaiian
• Arrivederci and Ciao – Italian
• Auf Wiedersehen – German
• Namaste – Hindi
• Sayōnara – Japanese
• Shalom – Hebrew

Some of these serve multiple purposes. Aloha, Ciao, and Shalom can all be used for both hello and goodbye. Shalom also has meanings related to peace, health, and well-being. Aloha is about a whole way of life contained in a single word. Ciao evolved from a longer Venetian phrase that essentially meant “I am at your service,” but is used much more casually today.

You might have learned the Hindi Namaste in a yoga class as a greeting, goodbye or both. It literally means to “bow to” another, but its deeper connotation is respect and reverence toward each other’s souls: “The divine in me honors the divine in you.” In fact, goodbye in several languages evolved from a sort of blessing. The French Adieu and Spanish Adiós both mean “to God,” which is a little like saying, “May God take care of you.”

Other words for goodbye are more casual. Sayonara literally means "if it is to be that way," but is used informally to say, “So long,” or “See ya.” Both Auf Wiedersehen in German and Arrivederci in Italian mean “Until we meet again.” The French Au revoir translates slightly differently, but has the same meaning.

For children, saying goodbye can be scary, but we have learned to amuse them and calm their fears of separation by creating rhymes. It started, of course, with “See you later, alligator,” and “After while, crocodile,” but now the possibilities are endless:

• Take care, polar bear!
• Stay loose, silly goose!
• Gotto go, buffalo!
• Bye-bye, butterfly
• Give a hug, ladybug
• See you soon, raccoon
• Be sweet, parakeet
• Best wishes, goldfishes!

Do you have your own to add? What’s your favorite way to say goodbye to family and friends? I’d love to hear from you. ([email protected])

This post is an edited excerpt from this week’s e-newsletter, Wait Lifters – uplifting content for every kind of downtime, soon to be a series of downloadable e-books.? If you enjoyed it, please share it.

Kathy Laurenhue, M.A, C.H.P., is the creator and CEO of Wiser Now, Inc., dedicated to fostering wellbeing in people of all ages. Known for her practical and lighthearted approach, she is the author of multiple books and newsletters, dozens of training courses and webinars, and hundreds of trivia quizzes, word, games, and discussion exercises. Check out the many offerings of her Wiser Now, Inc. website, her CreatingDelight.com ?website (focused on creating fun and goodwill) and her Caregiving website?(focused on both givers and receivers). She welcomes your feedback at [email protected].?