| It's never easy to lose someone you love. It's | | | | remember the good times that you shared |
| even harder when someone you know loses | | | | together. |
| someone they love. We go to the funeral home, | | | | Don't forget to mention that happy memory of |
| attend the wake and meet people we haven't | | | | the person. Mention how that person affected |
| seen in a while. It is during this time that we say | | | | you in life and what his or her death means to |
| sympathy words and do things that are meant to | | | | you. Family and friends of the deceased like to |
| comfort those who are grieving. Some people are | | | | hear about how that person affected or changed |
| not able to attend any kind of gathering, and may | | | | someone else's life, hopefully for the better. Use |
| instead choose to put their thoughts and wishes | | | | positive words to describe that person or their |
| of comfort into a sympathy letter or card. | | | | personality, such as devoted, faithful, patient, or |
| Writing Sympathy Words is Not as Difficult as | | | | kind. |
| You May Think. | | | | Of course, you know that when someone is |
| All it takes is a little empathy and some reflection. | | | | grieving, they must do it in their own way. Don't |
| Chances are pretty good that you knew the | | | | offer them unhelpful advice like 'Keep your chin |
| deceased at least well enough to have had some | | | | up'. That's the last thing anybody wants to hear |
| good memories involving that person. After their | | | | at a time like this. Aside from being the wrong |
| passing, it is often comforting to others to hear | | | | thing to say, they probably will have heard it |
| or read about these happy times. | | | | several dozen times anyway, so it can actually |
| Another important thing to keep in mind when | | | | end up sounding a bit contrived. |
| you are writing sympathy words and condolence | | | | When Offering Your Sympathy, Words May Not |
| letters is to be sympathetic. People suffering the | | | | Always Be Enough |
| emotional pain associated with the loss of a loved | | | | Offering help of some sort is also useful. Many |
| one need to know that someone else is hurting | | | | grieving family members simply doing household |
| the same way. In order to find the right words, | | | | chores can be more difficult than normal. Offer to |
| imagine yourself in their situation and try to | | | | make dinner, go to the store with them, or help |
| imagine how they must feel. | | | | out with yard work. They will appreciate the |
| Definitely don't try to pretty up your letter too | | | | extra help while they are going through this |
| much. So many people think that it will help | | | | difficult time. |
| someone to read flowery and over descriptive | | | | Finding the right way to express words of |
| language, but going overboard with that kind of | | | | sympathy in a letter can be easy, but writing |
| style can come off as a bit insincere. | | | | words for the sake of writing words can actually |
| Keep Your Sympathy Words Simple | | | | be harmful. Remember that the person you are |
| A lengthy letter or card can discourage a grieving | | | | writing to is grieving, and they don't want to hear |
| person from reading the whole thing. Reading a | | | | or read certain things. They've heard it all before |
| long letter takes energy, and nobody really wants | | | | from countless others, so you'll need to be |
| to spend that kind of effort to read a lengthy | | | | sincere in offering your condolences. No sympathy |
| letter while crying. Instead of writing a lot of | | | | words can truly take the pain of a loss away, but |
| words, try choosing a few sympathy words | | | | finding the right ones can let someone know that |
| wisely. You can communicate a vast amount of | | | | you are thinking of them and you know how |
| information with a simple sentence or two about | | | | they're feeling. |
| how you will miss the deceased and will always | | | | |