Graceful Exits: Making the Case for Getting Good at Goodbye

Offers advice on how to handle various exits in life, from death and loss, to firings and breakups with empathy and humor.
“Actually, Geri, it’s you. We have to let you go.” Hearing these words from my dear friend of more than 25 years over the phone on a sunny Friday afternoon left me shaking. It was a first for me – being at this end of a layoff. And it was a gut punch.
Being on the receiving end of a layoff, Geri Reid Suster pondered her next steps and had an epiphany – life is full of exits. From school, from jobs, from relationships, and ultimately from life itself. And those transitions can be rocky or they can be handled with grace, honor, and humor. Still, most people struggle with such endings, getting mired down in thoughts of failure, grief, frustration, regret, and anger. Here, Suster shows readers how they can do better, be better, and live better through all of life’s goodbyes.
Exits are going to happen whether we like it or not, so why not get good at them? How much time did you spend learning to walk, ride a bike, drive a car, and/or interview for a job? Why not spend a little time learning to approach exits with greater skill? An ugly exit not only leaves scars on everyone involved, but also adds to the psychological burden one carries long after the exit. On the other hand, a graceful exit is hard in the moment, but sets us up to feel lighter and healthier on the other side.
Direct and full of advice and suggestions for next steps forward, Suster guides readers through the ups and downs of goodbyes, and carefully reveals the best methods for a smoother, more graceful transition.