I choose to think of it as letting them go, not throwing them away. If they come back, then it's up to us to decide if we want them back. If not, we haven't lost anything.
And if they don't, the painful realization is that our perception of our R with them is different than their view of it.
Take care of yourself.
Thanks, Gima. I realized I mis-worded that as soon as I hit submit, but didn't bother editing.
I did not, would never, could never discard a loved one
I've been discarded. That's what I can't comprehend a loved one doing (not just to me: in general. To anyone)
Gardener
"My soul, be satisfied with flowers, With fruit, with weeds even; but gather them In the one garden you may call your own." Cyrano deBergerac