The Gift of People Who Walk Away
By Oluwole Solanke (PhD, FCIB)
It’s one of life’s hardest lessons—
People you loved, helped, trusted, or built with… walk away.
Some leave quietly.
Some leave suddenly.
Some leave after you gave them your very best.
At first, it feels like a wound.
A betrayal.
An unexpected void
But in time—and with healing—you begin to see the truth:
Some people walk away, not to break you, but to bless you.
Not Everyone Is Meant to Stay
We like to believe that the people we start with will be the people we finish with.
But life is seasonal.
Some are sent to walk with you for a chapter, not a lifetime.
Some are scaffolding—there for the building, not the finish.
And some leave because your growth would have threatened their comfort.
Letting go is painful.
But trying to hold on to what no longer serves your purpose is more painful.
When Absence Becomes a Blessing
There are people who leave your life and take confusion with them.
Some walk away, and suddenly, you can think clearly.
You sleep better.
You find peace.
You discover who you are without their noise, drama, or disapproval.
Their absence makes room for your clarity, your healing, your becoming.
It’s not that they were evil.
It’s that their assignment in your life came to an end—and keeping expired connections only delays divine direction.
The Lessons They Leave Behind
Every departure teaches something:
Some people teach you boundaries.
Some teach you how to love yourself.
Some reveal what real friendship isn’t.
And others prepare you for people who will treat you better, speak truthfully, and stay faithfully.
Even those who hurt you leave behind wisdom wrapped in pain.
Don’t curse the lesson.
Don’t resent the growth.
Because you needed that goodbye to become who you were meant to be.
Closure Isn’t Always a Conversation
Not everyone who walks away will explain why.
You may never get the apology.
You may never understand what changed.
But healing begins when you stop chasing answers and start choosing peace.
Sometimes, closure doesn’t come from others.
It comes from within—from knowing that you were genuine, loving, and loyal… and that’s enough.
Conclusion
When people walk away, it’s not always a rejection.
Sometimes, it’s a redirection.
A gift in disguise.
A divine pruning to make room for better relationships, deeper self-worth, and higher callings.
So grieve if you must.
But don’t stop growing.
Don’t stop loving.
Don’t let someone’s exit cause you to exit your own purpose.
Because in the end, the ones who stay—those who cheer for your growth, speak life into your soul, and walk with you in truth—those are the real gifts.
And to find them… sometimes, the others must walk away.
