My colleague’s brother has passed away after his heart attack. I want to condole with him but I don’t know how to express. All I can think of is “I am sorry for your lost”. I want to encourage my colleague more but don’t know what to say. Any advice?

1 comment

  1. >All I can think of is “I am sorry for your lost”.

    Avoid this. Avoid avoid avoid. “I’m sorry for your loss” is the biggest Meaningless Platitude out there. It makes a grieving person want to scream. It genuinely made me more angry than people saying nothing at all. All *anyone* can think of is “sorry for your loss”. Grieving people have to listen to it constantly.

    If I were you, I’d make him something to eat. Something he can easily just reheat in the microwave when he’s too deep in grief to look after his own needs. And when you give it to him, just quietly say, “Nothing I can say will make it better, but if you need some company or someone to talk to, I’m here for you. Just let me know.”

    In my experience, that’s what grieving people want. Distraction, and a break from their overwhelming sorrow. They want those around them to circle the wagons and offer support. Not platitudes with no action behind them.

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