When a Colleague Leaves: Creating a Memory That Stays

April 2, 2026                                           

 

Some goodbyes are planned well in advance. Others come as a surprise.

At work, people leave for all sorts of reasons: a new job, a change of direction or simply the feeling that it’s time for something different.

But when someone leaves, it’s rarely just about the job.

It’s the morning hellos, the coffee breaks, the little chats between two meetings. The projects you worked on together, the difficult days when you helped each other through, and the moments that made you laugh when you probably needed it most.

These things become part of your everyday life. You don’t necessarily think much about them while they’re happening.

Until one day, someone tells you they’re leaving.

And suddenly, you realise that their presence meant more than you thought. You want to do something to mark the occasion.

A gift card, a bouquet, a farewell drink... these are thoughtful gestures and often a lovely way to say goodbye.

But sometimes, you wish you could give a little more. Not necessarily something bigger or more expensive, but rather something that says what a simple gift cannot quite put into words.

Something they can keep.

Something that reminds them of the people they worked with, the moments they shared, and the place they had in the team.

A way of saying:

You were here. And it mattered.

 

At WonderLys, we started with a simple question:

what if a team could create something together?

Not just sign a card but take a moment to write, remember and share.

A guided memory book gives everyone a place to contribute, even those who aren't sure what to write or who might usually leave the words to someone else.

With a few thoughtful questions and space to write or add a photo, everyone can take part in their own way. There’s no need to find the perfect words or write a long message. Sometimes, a small memory or a few honest lines are enough.

And little by little, the pages fill up.

A favourite memory here, an inside joke there, a few words of thanks, perhaps a message that someone might never have thought to say out loud.

Together, they become something personal: a book full of the people and moments that made up a part of working life.

Our books come in different sizes to suit different teams, whether you're putting something together for a small group of colleagues or a larger department. The idea remains the same: to give everyone the chance to contribute, in their own way.

Because no one needs to have the perfect words to leave something meaningful behind.

Years later, the farewell itself may have faded from memory. The details of that last day, the gathering, the speeches...

But the book is still there.

So are the messages, the little stories and the words people took the time to write.

 

And when someone opens it again, they’re reminded of the people who shared that chapter of their life.

 

Mirha, WonderLys

 

Before the goodbye, there are all the moments we share