Until We Meet Again.
This article is part of Finding the Words, a newsletter that delivers practical insights on the day’s issues.
Earlier this year, I set out on a series of conversations about how to say hello (to new opportunities), goodbye (to people and places we've loved), and how to make the most of the space in between. This set of conversations (broadcast on the Mission Forward podcast) was as much a process of self-discovery as it was a response to those of you who have asked questions about how to navigate intense periods of change.
To say this process was illuminating is an understatement. I am leaving this year with a much deeper appreciation for how to say hello and goodbye, and how to be okay with the messy middle, too.
Now with the podcast season complete, and this year nearly complete too, I'm sharing five essential lessons from these valuable conversations. If you are on the precipice of something new, preparing to leave something familiar, or recommitting to what's right in front of you, I hope you find value in these words:
1. Start by recognizing the space between goodbye and hello. Our first conversation of the season featured Mike Pope and Elisa Pupko as they prepared to leave everything behind for a year-long adventure around the world with their children. Mike and Elisa discussed embracing uncertainty and acknowledging that the space between what we know and what we aspire to become can be filled with possibility. As they reminded me, that first leap into unknown territory must always begin in the "in-between."
Lesson: Rather than rushing through transitions, be okay with spending some time in the threshold. The "space between" may not yield immediate clarity, but it's fertile ground for what comes next.
2. Transitions aren't detours, they're thresholds to deepen your purpose. My closing conversation of the season was with Dr. DeRionne Pollard, who started with a memory—childhood lessons of generosity learned from neighbors, casseroles, and a community that cared. When she recently transitioned from leading a state university to a national leadership role, she literally mapped out her goodbyes and hellos on a whiteboard, giving herself space to acknowledge what she was leaving behind and to be deliberate about what she was entering. Her process is a powerful reminder that transitions—whether launching a new venture, ending a familiar role, or shifting directions—aren't distractions from the mission. They are moments to reflect on what shaped us, to center our values, and to choose how we want to show up next.
Lesson: Give yourself the time and space to name what you're leaving behind and what you're walking toward. Use each farewell as an anchor, not an engine.
3. Beginning again is not retreat; it's recommitment. For some leaders, a "begin again" moment isn't a sign of escape; it's a conscious choice to reimagine what's possible. In my conversation with Michael Bolden, the recently appointed Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, I heard exactly that: his decision to move into a new role was a move closer to the center of his own purpose, and toward the most challenging questions of our time. If you're considering starting something new or leaving behind what's familiar, take heart: beginning again doesn't always mean starting from zero. It can mean building on what you know, with deeper wisdom and renewed clarity.
Lesson: Recommitment can be radical. When you begin again, do it with intention, clarity, and courage.
4. Community is fundamental. Multiple conversations this season reminded us: community is not an afterthought, but the infrastructure of lasting impact. Whether it's building journalism that centers neighborhood voices (as in our conversation with Lisa Snowden), crafting systems that embed care and connection (as with Anne Kerns), or designing a life and a legacy that acknowledges both grief and possibility (as with Pete Wright), the throughline was the same: Impact isn't built solely through strategy or resources. It's built through trust, relationships, and a constant attention to what binds us together, especially in times of upheaval.
Lesson: Do not attempt to layer engagement or build community after implementing a strategy. Build your community into the foundation of how you organize, communicate, and lead.
5. When systems falter, hope can prevail. In my conversation with Rich Harwood, we explored how to restore belief in one another, a concept that can sometimes feel impossible. At a time when many systems seem to be fraying, investing in one another is not naive. It's strategic.
Lesson: Don't underestimate the capacity of hope, empathy, and human connection to revive work that feels weary or stalled.
So, where to go from here?
If you are launching something new, turning away from something familiar, or digging deeper wherever you are, I hope something in this week's reflection can help light your path forward. Because no matter which way you're headed, you can always go further when you're open to the possibility.
Until we meet again, my friend.
This post is part of the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights direct to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
