06/14/2026
The Goodbyes Never Get Easier
BLOG BY: Melissa Porter
There’s something I don’t talk about very often.
Not because I’m embarrassed by it.
But because unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it can be difficult to explain.
One of the hardest parts of Closet Share isn’t the fundraising.
It isn’t the long hours.
It isn’t the chaos.
It’s the people.
More specifically, it’s watching people you care about leave.
I have always struggled with attachment and abandonment issues.
When I care about someone, I care deeply.
I don’t know how to keep people at arm’s length.
I learn their stories.
I learn about their families.
I learn their struggles.
I celebrate their victories.
I drink coffee with them every morning.
I laugh with them.
I cry with them.
And before I know it, they’ve become part of my daily life.
Then life happens.
They get jobs.
They move.
They graduate.
They find new opportunities.
They begin new chapters.
Which is exactly what we want for them.
But that doesn’t make it easier.
Today, Paulette left.
On Monday, Silvie leaves.
And if I’m being honest, my heart is a little heavy.
Not because I’m not happy for them.
I am.
Incredibly happy.
These are the moments we’re supposed to celebrate.
Growth.
Opportunity.
Success.
New beginnings.
But there’s also a sadness that comes with it.
A chair that feels a little emptier.
A familiar face that’s no longer there.
A routine that’s suddenly different.
Over the years, I’ve experienced this more times than I can count through Closet Share.
Volunteers come into our lives, become part of our story, and then continue writing their own.
And every single time, it hurts.
What I’ve learned about myself though is that when it happens, I get quiet.
I pull back a little.
I take space.
I process.
I miss people deeply.
Then eventually, I come back stronger.
A little more healed.
A little more grateful.
A little more accepting that people are not meant to stay in every chapter of our lives.
Some people are here for a season.
Some are here for years.
But every single one leaves an impact.
I still think about volunteers from years ago.
I wonder how they’re doing.
I smile when I remember conversations.
I miss people more than I probably let on.
But I’m learning something important.
Loving people is never the mistake.
Caring deeply is never the mistake.
The pain of saying goodbye exists because the relationship mattered.
And that’s something worth being grateful for.
So while my heart feels heavy today, it’s also full.
Full of memories.
Full of gratitude.
Full of pride for the people moving forward.
I will miss Paulette.
I will miss Silvie.
Just like I’ve missed so many others before them.
But more than anything, I hope they know how much they mattered while they were here.
And as always, I’ll be cheering them on from the sidelines, praying they do well, and hoping life gives them everything they deserve.
The goodbyes never get easier.
But maybe that’s because the people were worth loving in the first place.
