Charm School
Offering Sympathy
Offering SympathyMen's Health Charm School
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| Condolences work best when simple and sincere. |
LESSON #6
Condolences work best when simple and sincere. Use stationery and a good pen. Time-tested language includes phrases like "I'm keeping you in my thoughts." A fond memory can supply much comfort, and tactful humor will be appreciated. ("Leo was a great man and an even better bowler.") Omit nightly news vocabulary - "killed," "hit-and-run," or even "died" isn't soothing. Supplement your sympathy with a donation to an appropriate charity. In person, a lingering handshake or heartfelt hug can say more than words, which may be forgotten in the haze of mourning.