All tagged sympathy
People are either list makers or they’re not. Making a list brings peace of mind to some because when life is scattered, a list is comforting. If it’s on the list, it’s hard to forget. I always thought everyone made lists. However, I learned that some lists stress people out. To see the number of items on a list can overwhelm those who want to focus on the present moment.
Remember the days when it was proper etiquette to write thank you notes by a certain date after an event? Or the days when there was an appropriate time frame to reach out to someone who lost a loved one? Thank goodness for Emily Post! She shaped our nation by having all the answers to these social norms. To this day, long after Mrs. Post’s guidelines were popularly practiced, we still continue to measure our social behaviors against them.
Writing thank you notes is something thoughtful that I am constantly encouraging. I am also frequently bringing up not-so-easy situations like suffering the loss of a loved one. I’m Here. You’re There and Return to Sender are two posts that I share thoughtful gestures and/or pinches for those situations.
It is much easier to buy gifts for someone who is celebrating than it is for someone who is grieving. Birthdays, a new baby, anniversaries. Those occasions are pretty easy to shop for because those are fun gifts to buy. It's super awkward and hard to comfort someone who has lost a loved one. Besides the stores at local funeral homes, there aren't many venues that carry a variety of thoughtful pinches to give to someone who is grieving.
