Category Archives: What To Say
How to help in a crisis: Provide Entertainment
Nothing beats a good escape when one is in crisis. A good movie, book or song can do a lot to relieve the stress of living in the day-to-day strain of a life-in-crisis. You can help her escape by providing her with entertainment. Quddus (of MTV Total Request Live fame) and I at the [...]
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Two weeks ago yesterday, the explosion at the Boston Marathon changed the lives of many people. The crisis for them (and their friends and family) is NOT over. In many ways, it has just begun. How do you offer support when your friend is in crisis? (Hint: Mouse over and click the ‘Play’ button in [...]
READ THE RESTWhy, God?
Op-Ed Columnist Maureen Dowd asked her friend, Father Kevin, to comment on that question. You can read her/his op-ed piece here. His response was humbling and not what I expected from a priest (admittedly, my personal stereotypes are to blame for the low expectations.) But what I liked were many of the comments. Especially this [...]
READ THE RESTWhat To Say When Someone Dies, Part 2
In February 2010, a young girl was hit by a car and killed. Rabbi Morely Feinstein spoke at her funeral. His words, to me, were the most poignant I have ever heard. They break through to the painful truth. “At such a time of grief, what can we say to give comfort to those [...]
READ THE RESTNewton, CT and What To Do To Help
Newtown Shooting | The Victims Charlotte Bacon, 6 Daniel Barden, 7 Olivia Engel, 6 Josephine Gay, 7 Ana Marquez-Greene, 6 Dylan Hockley, 6 Madeleine Hsu, 6 Catherine Hubbard, 6 Chase Kowalski, 7 Jesse Lewis, 6 James Mattioli, 6 Grace McDonnell, 7 Emilie Parker, 6 Jack Pinto, 6 Noah Pozner, 6 Caroline Previdi, 6 Jessica Rekos, [...]
READ THE RESTShe’s Having A Double Mastectomy
How do you help a friend with cancer? You cry.
READ THE RESTWay #7 Don’t say “It’ll be OK”
Do you really know it’ll be OK? When your friend is in pitch-black pit of despair, sobbing, hysterical and very, very scared, we are desperate to make them feel better. So we say things that can sound contrite. Saying “It’ll be OK” may have the opposite reaction of comforting. It can cause her to feel isolated. [...]
READ THE RESTWay #12 Say “I’m so sorry.”
These words are often the first anyone says to someone and they are good ones. They have power, with the right emotion and inflection When you say “Sorry” you are acknowledging that she is going through a tough time. and how sorry you are that this is her experience. Simple, sweet and meaningful. September’s [...]
READ THE RESTWay #12 Say SOMETHING!!
Two days ago, I told you what not to say and you may now be completely gun shy, afraid you will say something stupid. But don’t let that stop you. Do SAY SOMETHING. Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA Ignoring what she’s going through is so very, very awkward, and it will just get more [...]
READ THE RESTWay #6 Don’t say “I know how you feel”
… unless, you have been in a twilight-zone, freakily similar situation. Charles Johnson, Carolina Panthers http://www.carolinahuddle.com/boards/topic/76177-photos-of-the-game/ While a crisis, no matter what kind, elicits similar emotional responses, when it’s your own crisis, it’s pretty damn huge. Most of the time the “I know how you feel.” statement is followed by some comparison that will appear [...]
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