A farewell letter is often of great significance, both for sender and recipient. You can express your feelings and gratitude with those parting words. You can bet that such a final personal greeting will have more impact than a farewell gift, and will be treasured forever by your departing colleague, neighbors, friends, teachers, teammates, employees, etc. If you don’t send a farewell greeting, you may regret it later.
Saying goodbye hurts
We often say goodbye in our lives, sometimes consciously but often without realizing it: Your neighbors are moving and you suspect that you will still see them regularly. Or a nice colleague leaves, whom you expect to bump into again. But it may well be that you never speak to that nice neighbor, schoolmate or fellow student with whom you have experienced so much. The farewell is of course very conscious, if you are the neighbor who moves, as an employee gets another job elsewhere, withdraws from politics, or ultimately lies on your deathbed. But in any case: saying a final goodbye to nice people, whom you have known for a long time and with whom you have shared joys and sorrows, is never easy and often emotional.
No saying goodbye
But not saying goodbye sometimes hurts even more at a certain point. It can also no longer be repaired and causes remorse because you have made a wrong decision. You neglect to look a nice colleague in the eye one more time. Or you didn’t attend the funeral of a good acquaintance because you thought you could get by with a condolence card. You are forced to leave abroad in a hurry, and at the same time it hurts that you were not able to say goodbye to the nice people with whom you have built up friendship and collegiality. Hopefully you have their (email) address so you can send them a few parting words at home. If necessary, via their 06 number.
Unforgettable farewell
You can say goodbye in many ways, for example:
- From friends while enjoying a drink in a café, or in the sports club canteen after the last training or farewell match.
- During a farewell reception that your employer offers you after years of loyal service, you shake hands with all your closest colleagues and associates.
- At the end of the singing rehearsal you say to the entire choir that you have had great years and that you will miss them. You will certainly receive applause.
Farewell letter
But there are often situations where you feel a letter is necessary. Such a thoughtful, valuable letter will very often complement a verbal farewell. Because despite the nice farewell drink offered to you by the association, you can also write something in the club magazine. Or you can also send your sympathetic colleague a warmly worded farewell email in which you personally thank him/her for the collegiality and support that you have never relied on in vain. You can bet that those few heartfelt farewell lines will make an impression and be appreciated. Until death, the recipient will sometimes reread them with melancholy and warm feelings. And perhaps be proudly shown to your partner, children and other loved ones. It is abundantly clear that a Facebook message, no matter how well-intentioned, pales into insignificance.
Suggestions and examples
Staff magazine, club news, association newspaper, website
If you place a farewell or thank you letter in a newspaper or on the sports club’s website, you must take into account that many people will read it, including people who do not know you (that well). So try to make it understandable to everyone, the editors will also appreciate that. And with such a diverse readership, you keep it somewhat general and don’t make it too emotional. Indicate, among other things, the reason for your departure, thank people who have supported you and wish the readers and the association, (the company) the best for the future, etc. In principle, keep the order: past, present, and future, because that is generally the clearest and most pleasant to read. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to follow that chronological order, if you have a reason to do so.
Departing colleague or relation
If you have been invited to a farewell reception for a valued colleague, employee, fellow director or business associate, and you are unable to attend, it will certainly be appreciated if you write that colleague a sympathetic letter in compensation in which you tell him/her:
- Thank you for the cooperation, the support, etc. You can emphasize those qualities that you appreciated so much. E.g. commercial creativity, organizational talent, solution orientation, humor, cheerful character, decisiveness, collegiality, social feeling, optimism, helpfulness, positive attitude, etc. And that you will never forget that one time when…… etc.
- And of course you wish her/him success in their further career, or encourage you to enjoy the well-deserved retirement.
- Even if that colleague has been fired due to budget cuts, reorganization or labor dispute, he/she will probably appreciate a sympathetic and encouraging (comforting) support. Please realize that it can be used against you if you seriously criticize the employer or the organization you are a part of in such a letter or email. In that respect, keep the formulation neutral, or do not discuss the reason for the forced departure at all.
Closing school, study, university, training
A teacher, instructor or educator is only human. You can bet that the teacher will appreciate it if you, as a departing student, pupil, pupil or student, send a thank you for the energy expended on you to successfully complete the training and obtain the diploma. And perhaps the kindergarten teacher or primary school teacher would also love to receive a thank you note from a parent for guiding that more difficult child of yours so well. How proud that young girl will be, or how that older teacher will appreciate that she is receiving recognition from someone again.
It is never too late for this, because even after months you can still write a sympathetic letter in which you tell that teacher that thanks to the school you are doing so well in your new job, further education, your relationship, etc. Thank you for that from education end staff can even be done years later, because of course that math teacher is proud that his student ultimately has such a great job as an adult.
When you end the friendship
On paper you can explain well and clearly why you are ending the relationship. You may have already personally said hello to the person who was your boyfriend, girlfriend, comrade, or loved one, but such an emotional moment is often not suitable for a detailed summary of the motives and arguments. And especially not to listen to it carefully. So if you feel the need to put your feelings and the reason for the breakup on paper, try to be as honest as possible. Also remember the nice experiences, don’t talk too much in terms of guilt, because if two people are not a good fit for each other, it doesn’t have much to do with guilt. Express appreciation to the other person and thank them for the beautiful moments. Perhaps you can describe that despite the unfortunate outcome (growing apart), you are still happy that you got to know him/her and that you will continue to think back on the relationship with positive feelings.
By email?
A signed letter that is personally delivered or delivered by post makes a big impression. But it is often more practical to send by email, especially if you want to reach a larger group. If it concerns a few parting words with which you thank a business associate or colleague and wish them luck, an email will also suffice. Or be original and old-fashioned by writing something by hand. When choosing, let your feelings and common sense speak.
Sample letter if you are going on a long journey
If you are going on a major trip abroad, for a holiday, a business reason or because you are a journalist, it is not unwise to write a short business farewell letter to the home front, in case you die during that adventurous trip. For example, you keep that file in a closed envelope in a place that your partner or other family members can easily find and can only open in the event of your death or disappearance. This will probably not be a long emotional goodbye letter, because then it seems that you have consciously left your life. No, such a letter (to your wife and children) might say at most:
- That you love them and are proud of them.
- As brothers and sisters, ask them to always remain friends with each other.
- And mention the bank accounts and other documents so that it doesn’t become a needle in a haystack for them.
- You can also mention how and where you want to be buried.
- Where is the list of addresses located and should an obituary appear.
- If you have valuable things to distribute, you can do so in that letter, which will prevent discussions.
(Of course, you don’t necessarily have to travel to write such a letter, because death sometimes presents itself unexpectedly, 365 days a year.)
A loved one is going to die
If a close acquaintance is seriously ill, is dying (too early) and is still of sound mind, there may also be a need to write a final greeting. The feeling tells you that you should not use the words ,death, passing away, dying, farewell, illness, etc. (too much). Because although you write that letter in connection with that tragic event, the sick person probably benefits most from the beautiful memories, what you have experienced together, positive words of comfort and support. But of course you decide for yourself what you think is appropriate. Realize that the letter will also be read by any partner.
A few random example sentences that might provide inspiration for a personal farewell letter:
(My) Dear / dear
- I want to thank you for the wonderful time and the unforgettable moments.
- We have experienced pleasant/moving and sometimes unpleasant/difficult/intense things together, like that time….
- But when things were tough/difficult, we were always there for each other.
- I will never forget that you… because thanks to you…
- I admire the courage/own opinion that you always dared to show.
- That time you stood up for me (for me) made a deep impression.
- I experience it as a privilege that I got to know you.
- You were often a support, (example) for me.
- You were a person with principles and at the same time understanding of those who thought differently.
- Forever I will remember you as a true comrade.
- Later I will tell my children about that special friend of mine with whom I was so close. And that I miss.
Farewell
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