Expressing Sympathy In Unconventional Ways

When someone you care about loses a loved one, it can be difficult to know what to do. Every person experiences grief and mourning in a unique way, and for that reason we all have different impulses when it comes to expressing sympathy. You may be uncomfortable or unsure about what the right thing to say or do is. That is perfectly normal. What you must eventually realize is that there is no perfect condolence, no ideal gift. Your loved one has lost someone they care about very much, and that is going to be difficult no matter what you say or do. What you can do is lighten the load or offer a way to remember their lost loved one in happier times.

Many people fall back on conventional cards or flowers arrangements, but that can be very impersonal. Some people set up memorial funds for favorite charities or non-profits in the deceased person’s name. If there is such a fund, consider donating. This will send the message to your friend or family member that you understand their loss and want to honor their loved one’s memory. These memorial funds are a wonderful way to remember someone who has died.

If there is no such memorial fund, there are other unique ways that you can honor the memory of someone’s loved one who has passed. The gifts sold through The Comfort Company are creative and beautiful, and offer a way to say that you are sorry and support your loved one while giving them a way to keep the memory of their deceased family member alive in their hearts. You should consider any favorite memories of the deceased and think about ways to bring those memories to the forefront. Did he or she have a love of the outdoors or gardening? Perhaps a memorial bench or a garden stone would be a good idea. Other favorite unconventional sympathy gifts include a memorial lamp to symbolize their light shining on through the years.

Providing sympathy for a friend or family member can be a difficult thing, but you must understand that just by saying you’re sorry for their loss, you are helping. Understand that is a difficult time, and knowing that friends and family like you are thinking of them and want to help. Your loved one may not always know to ask for what they need, so don’t be afraid to ask them directly. You can provide a lot of support by offering your shoulder and your ear.

By: Renee Wood, MSW

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Renee Wood founded The Comfort Company in 2000. She is a social worker that has helped families deal with the loss or pending loss of a child, as well as aiding patients in the end-stage of renal failure. The gifts provided by The Comfort Company offer memorial ideas as well as hope for healing hearts.