When to say goodbye: Letting Go of Incompatible Relationships

Amid the pandemic, like many others, we got a puppy. Max was the cutest dog we could have asked for and quickly became a part of our family. With most of us at home, our kids enjoyed playing with him, bringing them much joy.

One evening, while playing with Max, my son pushed him, and in response, Max nipped his ear. Though playful, the combination of a puppy's sharp teeth and a child's soft ear tissue led us to take him to the hospital. The surgeon advised suturing his ear under complete sedation to avoid the pain of a local anesthetic. Fortunately, everything went well, and Henry's ear healed nicely in the following weeks.

However, given the surgeon's experience treating puppy bites, he suggested finding Max a new home. Although things seemed to go back to normal, a couple of months later, Max nipped our son's other ear. We had to face the reality that, even though we loved him, we could not keep him. It was a difficult decision, and we had to say goodbye. Our son missed Max terribly, and it broke our hearts.

In life, we often find ourselves in difficult circumstances. We may have a job we dread, a business that consumes all our time, a business partner we are not working well with, or a relationship that affects our mental health.

Although it may not be easy, it is necessary to prioritize our well-being, that of our loved ones, and the businesses we are involved in. It is essential to evaluate the risks and rewards of our relationships and consider if they align with our current and desired future situations.

Just as having an incompatible puppy in our lives, there may be incompatible people for certain moments in our lives. Success lies in changing things from that point forward rather than regretting having tried them in the first place.

Although it may be tough, we must set priorities and make changes to achieve them. Letting go of what is not working is not a failure; it is an opportunity to make room for what is truly meant for us.