The best goodbye email I've ever read

It makes you think. :)

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From:

Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:11 PM

To:

Cc:

Subject: Don't sweat the small stuff

My friends (except Jim and maybe you too Clarissa – Don’t laugh, I’m serious (haha)),

Initially, I intended to just slip away quietly but I realized that to do so without acknowledging my friends would be disrespectful and downright rude. As such, this letter is therefore being sent out. We would want to encourage proper behaviour, wouldn’t we?

Someone once said “Kindness is the passport and the proven way for two to journey through a lifetime, each other, or a single summer’s day.” Don’t ask me who, because I don’t know. Google it or something. Haha. I thought it was a good line. (Maybe something you can mention in a first date to impress. Sorry, I digress.) Words of wisdom there. Something I believe should be incorporated in the PVP. Heck, maybe it should replace the PVP. You never go wrong with kindness. I have yet to see it fail.

I have a long memory. I remember acts of kindness much longer than I hold grudges. I want to thank all those who have lent a helping hand, made me laugh, bent backwards, took a blow for me, spoke up for me and watched my back. You know who you are and believe me, all those are stored in my memory bank. I shall return the favour someday. If I myself can’t, the universe in all its mysteries, will proxy for me to maintain the cosmic balance.

I’m not big on promises so you won’t hear any of those “let’s keep in touch” pledges. If you and I want to stay in touch, we will do so given the technology and services at our disposal. If we drift away, then such is the nature of fleeting relationships. I thank you still for the good memories and this farewell was then well made. At least we had our single summer’s day. And if we continue to keep in touch, hell yeah, we just need to put up with each other’s irritating traits much longer. Haha. Of course, I jest.

I have an empty bank account, nothing of importance attached to my name. My earthly possessions are limited to a snorkel, a dive mask, trekking boots, a couple of cameras, an ipod filled with my life’s soundtrack, a braun 790 shaver and more Oral B toothbrushes than I have teeth (of course, I need to endorse my brands. You haven’t heard of loyalty?) Everything I own, I can fit in a bag or two. I have no definite plans yet. I have a few things I intend to work on, things I hope will enable me to feed myself without going back to the corporate world. In all probability, I will most likely starve.

But I choose life. And as hobbits meandering in Middle earth are, life is also short.

A black hole by its very nature will never be filled up. I prefer to build my life on strong foundations where reciprocity is paramount. I choose to live not merely to exist. I want to die falling off a cliff, or drown in deadly rapids, or even with a bullet in the head defending democracy. There are other more noble aspirations in life.

So my friends, I salute you and pay tribute to you. I have wonderful memories with you. May you eventually get what you deeply aspire for. Tonight, when I get home, I will open a bottle of wine and will recall you, all the people who have made my life in this company wonderful. I will drink to each and very one of you. Te Salud!! I mean it.

You know where to find me. I’ll be around.

With my deepest affection,

Gabby

P.S. I leave you with an article I’ve written and was published. Some of you have already seen it. I intend to write more of these. Shoot me an email if you want to be in the distribution list.