Of Farewell Speeches

The other day, a senior colleague retired. In his long career, he had crossed many milestones and contributed considerably to a spate of initiatives. Lots to be proud of. And all of us present in that room, with glasses of bubbly and firewater in our hands, knew about our colleague’s fabulous career.

And then he spoke. And he spoke about the things he’d done, he spoke of the glory he had brought to the business, he spoke of the things which would not have got done, if it wasn’t for him. He spoke of the marvel that he is. Well, no denial there. But.

Not a word of thanks to us, his peers, or to his team members, all of whom were part of his ascent. Not a shade of gratefulness, not a mention of anybody at all. It was as if Rambo was retiring, and taking along with him his solitary, personalised bazooka.

Everybody noticed, of course, and there were comments on WhatsApp groups and immediate calls once we’d got into our cars.

I wondered about this strange phenomenon. Where people, on their last day, feel incumbent to give a listing of their accomplishments, starting from the time they started their career in the company. Almost as if to remind everybody of the glorious person they were about to lose.

Unfortunately, as a consequence, they lose everybody.

In contrast, I remember another colleague, who has a heart as big as his body (and who would be smiling, I know, as he reads this), who spent three minutes in talking about his progression and times in the company, and then the next fifteen minutes individually taking the name of everyone present in the room that evening, and how each one of us had enriched him and his life. Everyone had tears in their eyes.

That colleague is long gone. But though separated by geography, we are still dear friends.

And this got me thinking of how it would be when I retire - what would I miss the most.

And unequivocally, I knew, it would not be my work; it would be my colleagues, whose presence I cherish beyond everything. I would miss our banter, the morning coffee with them, the working together late into the evenings, the discussions which became heated, the luncheons we shared with a juicy morsel of gossip.

Maybe, I would be lifelong friends with a few, and be in regular touch. With others, I would probably be polite acquaintances, meeting sporadically or by accident, but with whom I would still share a warmth of pleasant memories.

And I thought of one of the most moving farewell speeches I have ever heard. It was given by a colleague years back, with a cracked-up voice and tears in his eyes. He doesn’t want to be named, but I have his permission to transcribe his speech. Please read below.

Hello everybody!

Thanks for being here, and saying such good things about me. I wish you had told all this earlier - I would have loved you even more!

Well, here I am, and unbelievably - and possibly to the relief of many - I am onto my last day!!

But I do not want to stand here and talk of things I’ve done or achieved. If they are important they will stay and make life richer for a future generation of people. Because a thing of beauty doesn’t require reiterations or insistences, it is beautiful because it is.

What does require reiteration, again and again, is what you have meant for me. Because I would have been lesser, much diminished, without your presence, your grace, your generosity. I seem taller merely because I have forever been on the shoulders of giants like you.

They say there is nobody who is good or bad - because they are all reflections of you. And I hope fervently I have been able to give all of you back the goodness you have given to me, even if it is a mere fraction of your gift.

I go into the next phase of my life with profound memories of my interactions with all of you. How much I’ve learnt! How much I’ve grown because you have opened up your knowledge and your hearts to me!

Thank you is too little a word to cover the skies and the earth and the universe you have so benevolently bequeathed in my keepsake. It’s the most precious possession I carry with me in my new journey.

I am blessed, immeasurably, limitlessly, because you have shared of yourself with me. So this is scarcely a parting. I carry each one of you inside.

Thank you.

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Some Uncut Poetry gems on letting go -

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