by Jim McCann (NAPS)—When someone you know a loses a friend or family member,it’s not easy deciding when and howbestto respond. You may find yourself unsure of Help your loved ones heal by giving them time to talk and share memories. Send a Card Show your concern and support by sending a card. You can even put your own personal message inside. Expressing sympathy doesn’t have to be scary. what to say or do. Sometimes, a simple Don't Minimize Their Pain It is important to keep the focus on the grieving person. Resist the urge to share stories of times when you'velost a loved one. Let your friend or family member sharehis or her own stories and memories andlisten. phrase such as “I'm sorry for your loss” can be extraordinarily meaningful. Here are six more helpfultips on how to approach someonewhoisgrieving: Listen Allowing a grieving person to express how heor she feels can be a huge help. Try to listen without offering advice or interrupting. Letting people share mem- ories and talk about their loved one can be a part of the healing process. Be Specific When Offering Help Make a specific commitment to being with the person who needsyou. Offering assistance with day-to-day matters can be very comforting but be sure to offer something specific, such as “I’m coming over with groceries on Sat- 1-800-Flowers.com developed a sympathy advice and etiquette online resource guide. Navigate Social Media Appropriately has created an online sympathy hub for urday.” That way, you're offering help without placing the burden on the grieving person to figure out what to bring and when. When acknowledging the newsofa loss, stick with the communication medium through which youinitially received the To further help, 1-800-Flowers.com tips and advice, directly from experts, It is normal for people whoare griev- on how best to express sympathy and condolences. Topics include Appropriate Sympathy Etiquette Across Different Religions, How to Write a Eulogy, How to Create a Memory Garden and How to Cope With Grief Around the Holidays. This is a resource for people in their time of need and making their experiencea little easier to manage. The goalis for people to have a greater understanding of how to help theirfriends, family and co-workersin coping with a loss. It takes time to heal, so be patient and For further information, visit www. information.Ifthe news came by phone, return thecall. If you learned aboutthe death through social media,it is appropriate to reply on social media; just be sure to keep your message brief on public pages. More-detailed expressions of sympathy should be conveyedin private posts. Be Patient ing to experience a range of emotions. allow them to grieve at their own pace. Learn More 1800flowers.com/sympathyadvice.
