Heartfelt Farewell Speech

Do you need help with a sad goodbye?

Delivery tip: The more pauses in your farewell speech, the more impact the following sentiments will have.

So if you want some tears in the audience, speak slowly and use the spaces between sentences for a heavy silence.

Goodbye speech 1:

"I can't tell you how difficult it is to describe how sad I am to be leaving.
When I got here so many years ago, I would never have realised how connected I would be to such a warm community of people.

Many times I have been humbled by the kindness of your hearts.
When I look at this gift/my photos/this scar/[other personal item], I will remember…[memories].

Tomorrow I will wake up in my new life, full of yet-to-be realised opportunities, and empty of your company... I will be in a strange limbo.

You’ve helped me through some difficult times, and shared the joyous times in yours. Some people judge their lives on what they do, others on who they are. I want my life judged on the friends I keep, and how enriched I am from just knowing you.

To out a couple of people:

You might remember a time when I was [name difficulty]. Well I know it might not seem much to people but [Friend A] stepped in to lend a hand. I don't think [Friend A] knows how much that meant to me. I was new to town and didn't feel like I could ask for help. It was a kindness that I now try to return to newcomers.

I also want to mention [Friend B]. Always with a joke and a smile, and no matter what kind of a day I had, I was always welcome to relax and unwind at [Friend B]'s house. It was like a refuge and it's another example of generosity and tolerance that I would like to emulate.

[Continue to mention some friends and their qualities or situations that you are grateful for].

To quote Shakespeare, who is a better word-smith than I am:
"And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take:
For ever, and for ever, farewell, friends!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;
If not, why, then this parting was well made. "

To see you here in front of me, the last time all together, is a picture I will treasure for a very long time.

So... until the next time we gather, my very dear friends, farewell for now."

Are you also leaving a childhood home?

Goodbye speech 2 (more humour):

"Thank you everyone for being here.

It's made me realise how much I am giving up by moving on - just when you're all turned out to see me off, and I realise how much love there is here, that's when I leave!

So this moment is a little overwhelming, and lovely, and touching, and un-(wo)manning, and, and, I forget.

The last time I saw all of us like this was when we turned out to support [person] at [event].  We are a beautiful community and I am just so amazed that you would do this for me now.  Thank you.

But it shouldn't surprise me because all of you have been present for me at staggered times while I've been here.  I met most of you at the [place/event] when I arrived in [year].  From there I met [people] to share the passion of [hobby] and through work I met [people].  Then the roots really bedded in when I had my children and met [people]! 

I've always had someone to [hobby] with, had a friendly face at the [place/event], had someone cover my butt at work, and definitely bonded with other parents in the deep-end of parenthood.  Whoever comes to town to take over this role has awesome karma for sure.

I felt so safe here, and my kids are safe here.  I can only blame my leaving on [pure greed for the next job/adventure/other people dragging me away].

So I just want to share some pearls I've learned here:

[quote some of the people you know - everyone should be able to recognise the quotes or the story referred to and this in itself is heartfelt humour, for example:]

• some people really will eat the butt off a low-flying bird when they are hungry,
• there are crocodiles in the dam and they ate the bunyips,
• 5 dollars wouldn't buy 10 dollars these days,
• don't get dogs that don't hunt,
  
• when it gets below 14 degrees interstate with a front coming through here, it will snow,
• don't spit into the wind,
• can't get honey without bees, can't catch flies without honey.
  

These are things I will NEVER forget.  If anybody questions me about them I will point them this way,  I promise.

Some other things I know I will miss:

• home-made chutney - never had it before I came, can't go back to store stuff now.  Maybe I'll just have to visit every autumn!
• getting irate at the punters who come to town driving at 20 km/hr just for the Pearl Festival
• sunsets over the beach
• Kiki's bacon and egg rolls weekday mornings - I cannot tell you the comfort they bring at 5:30am

You guys have it so good here.  Thank you for sharing so much! [toast glass] Cheers!"

Thanks for these examples,

but I might just check out letters for some more words.

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