• DagwoodIII@piefed.socialEnglish
    54·
    2 days ago

    [serious]

    My friend was in the hospital and I asked his wife if there was anything I could do. She said no. Then I gave her a list of things like shopping or taking the kids to school. She said that yes, she could use someone to drive her to the store.

    Offering concrete suggestions was better than platitudes.

    • qualia@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      2 days ago

      Pretty beautiful sentiment here. Legitimately.

      Edit: I’d never had close friends my whole life, just arms’ distance ones. Yet when I ended up in the hospital, despite having no emergency contacts, a new group I’d recently joined tracked me down and showed up to visit me. Once I got past the embarrassment I was sooo touched. Now they’re my motivation to stay healthier.

      Edit2: Nolan, famously the most empathetic character in all of fiction (eventually).

      • WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today
        21·
        2 days ago

        Well, c’mon - they’re there already. May as well continue being supportive by doing the shopping together (was gonna say “doing it together,” but didn’t want any misinterpretations).

  • ѕєχυαℓ ρσℓутσρє@lemmy.sdf.org
    15·
    2 days ago

    [serious]

    Depends, honestly. Understand what the person feels comfortable with. Apart from a few close friends and family (and sometimes the list can get even smaller), I don’t really want to be touched when I’m sad. Either listen to my rant, or if I’m being silent maybe leave me alone for a bit.

    Anyway, just try to be mindful. I feel kinda annoyed by this one-size-fits-all approach to human interactions. It depends on the person, their culture, your relationship to them, the nature of the sorrow, and many other factors.

    • WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today
      16·
      2 days ago

      Have you never watched Invincible? Let’s just say you probably wouldn’t want fatherly advice from this guy.

  • cRazi_man
    5·
    2 days ago

    I was told it was best to draw the alphabet on their back and that was much more satisfying. Was that not correct advice?

    • unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      Probably helps to know the person and whether they’ll appreciate it. Do that weird back rub shit on me and we are done. Get the fuck out of the hospital room.