It was sad leaving 'All Saints' because I was leaving a family

Host: The dim light of the late afternoon filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the room. The air felt thick with the weight of unspoken thoughts. The world outside seemed to move at its usual pace, but inside, time had slowed. Jack sat at the table, staring out the window, his fingers absentmindedly tapping on the edge of his coffee cup. Jeeny stood by the window, her arms crossed, her eyes lost in the view outside. The silence between them was almost comfortable, but there was a lingering thought in the air, waiting to be spoken.

Jeeny: “I was thinking about a quote I read from Chris Vance. He said, ‘It was sad leaving ‘All Saints’ because I was leaving a family that had nurtured me and looked after me for a couple of years, and at the same time, that particular storyline wasn’t a surprise to me. I knew I was going. It had been worked out very carefully over many months.’ There’s something really poignant in that, don’t you think?”

Jack: “Yeah, I mean, that’s the thing with leaving something you’ve been part of for so long. You know it’s coming, you see it building up, but that doesn’t make it any easier. You can prepare yourself for it, but there’s always something that feels unfinished, something that’s left behind.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Chris Vance talks about it like he knew the end was coming, but even so, it was still sad to leave. That’s the emotional part—the reality that even when we see something ending, even when it’s been planned for months, the emotional connection doesn’t just disappear. It’s the feeling of belonging that makes it so difficult.”

Host: The room felt quieter now, as if the words were hanging between them, waiting to take root. The whirring of a nearby fan was the only sound that broke the stillness. Jack’s gaze was distant, his thoughts clearly caught on something just beyond his reach.

Jack: “I get that. It’s like leaving a part of yourself behind, even when you know it’s time to go. When you’re part of a family, whether it’s a work family or a group of friends, there’s a comfort in the routine, in the shared experiences. But when it’s over, there’s always that sense of loss, even if you knew it was coming. It’s like walking away from something that’s been a part of you for years, and now, you have to figure out what comes next.”

Jeeny: “It’s the same for any kind of change, right? Even if you’re ready for it, even if you can see it coming from miles away, you’re still forced to let go. It’s like growth—you can’t hold onto the old forever. But that doesn’t make it easy. You still feel the weight of what you’re leaving behind, the people who became your support, your anchor.”

Jack: “I guess there’s a kind of comfort in knowing that things are settled, that you have a place in the world, a role that’s been clearly defined. But then, when it shifts, you’re faced with that uncertainty. It’s like stepping into the unknown after you’ve been wrapped in something familiar for so long.”

Host: The quiet seemed to deepen, as if the room itself were reflecting on the weight of their conversation. The dim light from the window softened, casting a muted glow over the space. Jeeny moved closer to the table, her eyes meeting Jack’s with a quiet understanding.

Jeeny: “But there’s also something freeing about that uncertainty, don’t you think? The fact that, even though Chris Vance was sad to leave, he also knew that change was necessary. He knew it was part of the bigger picture. Sometimes, the hardest part is not the departure, but the realization that everything, even the best things, eventually come to an end. And when you accept that, you can start to see the possibilities that come with it.”

Jack: “Yeah, but that doesn’t make it easy. You can understand it intellectually, but the emotions always run deeper. It’s hard to let go of something you’ve invested so much in, no matter how inevitable the change is.”

Jeeny: “True. But I think that’s where the growth happens, Jack. When you can feel the loss, acknowledge it, but still take the next step forward. It’s not about erasing the past, but about honoring it and using it to shape what comes next. Chris Vance was able to see the emotional side, but he also understood that his story, his journey, wasn’t over. It was just evolving into something new.”

Host: The room grew still, the light from outside now almost gone, leaving only the soft glow of the lamp to light the space. The conversation between them felt like a quiet reflection, a realization that even the hardest goodbyes—whether it’s leaving a job, a chapter in life, or a place that’s been your home—are part of the ongoing story of becoming who you’re meant to be. Change, like the seasons, may bring sadness, but it also brings the opportunity to move forward into something new, something undefined.

Jack: “Maybe that’s the key. It’s not just about the ending, but what you do with the space it leaves behind. Even if you know you’re leaving something good, something that feels like family, maybe you have to trust that the next step will give you what you need to keep growing.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Growth isn’t always easy, but it’s always necessary. And sometimes, the hardest part is letting go—but that’s what opens the door to what comes next.”

Host: The night had fully settled in now, the soft glow of the lamp filling the room with warmth. Jack and Jeeny sat in the quiet of their understanding, both reflecting on the inevitability of change and the emotional complexity it carries. There was sadness in the leaving, but also a quiet sense of anticipation for the future—a future where growth could continue, unburdened by what was left behind.