I was feeling kind of sad the other day about something that was, well, legitimately sad, and I was like, “Ugh, I’m feeling sad. This makes me very uncomfortable.” The sadness did not feel productive, so I worked very hard to try to get rid of it. I thought about things that make me happy. I found lovely distractions (there is a new TV show about witches!). After some time, things felt a little better. Sort of.

But then a very wise friend reminded me that sometimes we’re supposed to be sad. It’s wasn’t a groundbreaking idea, but I needed to hear it. Sometimes we just have to sit with uncomfortable feelings. It can be the best way to understand them.

It makes perfect sense that as you approach graduation and the end of your relationship, you’re experiencing sadness, grief, hope, and more. I know it’s a lot to deal with at once, and that you want a remedy for all of this confusion, but going with the ups and downs is part of the process. You should enjoy the good stuff. Experience the longing. Allow yourself some fantasies about the future. Try to get at least a little bit of sleep as you go along.

Something tells me that if you accept that the next few weeks are going to be a roller coaster, you’ll have a better time living in the moment. All you can do is pay attention and get through it. Good luck – and congrats on graduation.

– Meredith

Readers? How do you have nice moments when you know the end of a relationship is coming?