A Surprising Lesson From My Daughter’s Binky

Last week, we had a big milestone in our house.

After 2½ years of loyal service, my daughter’s beloved binky—the one that soothed every skinned knee, calmed every stormy nap, and became an irreplaceable companion—was officially retired.

But we didn’t just toss it and move on.

That felt too abrupt, too dismissive of the role it played in her early years. Instead, we turned it into something special.

We went to Build-A-Bear, where she tucked her binky inside a new stuffed animal, giving it a second life.

We talked about how much comfort it had given her and how it had helped her grow into the brave little girl she is today.

It was a ceremony, in a way—a moment to honor what had been before moving forward.

And then, just like that, she let it go.

It might sound small, but in that moment, my daughter had her first real brush with grief.

She was saying goodbye to something that had meant the world to her, and she did it with the kind of bravery and grace that honestly made me a little misty-eyed.

It left me thinking: why don’t we do this more often in our own lives?

We may not have binkies anymore, but we all hold onto things—jobs, relationships, habits, even identities—that have served us well at one point.

And when it’s time to let them go, we often skip the step of honoring them.

We rush to the next thing without pausing to acknowledge what was, and it quietly robs us of something important.

Inner growth.

Here’s the thing: letting go isn’t easy.

It’s uncomfortable. It’s messy. And sometimes it feels easier to just push through, ignore the grief, and move on.

But it's by honoring what was, whether it's by expressing gratitude for the role it played or creating a ritual (yes, you can go to Build-A-Bear, too), we create the space for what's next.

For leaders, this is especially important.

Transitions are a part of life—whether it’s a project ending, a team member moving on, or even a big change in your own career.

How you handle those transitions sets the tone for what comes next, both for you and the people you lead—at work and home.

So let me ask you: is there something you’re holding onto right now that’s ready to be released?

If so, take a moment to honor it. Thank it. Give it a proper goodbye.

You might find that this small act makes the next chapter even better.

As always, I'm rooting for you. We're in this together.

-Caleb