5 Things To Say When You Have No Words

When someone you love suffers a painful loss, it’s hard to know what to do. These deep thinkers offer sage suggestions.

- Rebecca Webber

1 NOAH GALLOWAY, VETERAN AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

Say nothing at all.

A good friend of mine recently lost his mother. Everybody was reaching out to him, concerned. I texted him, “If you just want to hang out and not talk, I’m here.” He took me up on it. He came over, and we ended up talking about college football, life, our kids—everything but his loss. At times we just sat there and didn’t say a word; guys have that ability. Guys could learn from women about opening up and sharing feelings, but there’s a happy medium. Sometimes we need a moment that feels normal and reminds us that there are still things in life that have always made us happy, like time with friends.

2 ROBERT ZUCKER, GRIEF COUNSELOR

Fall back on a heartfelt cliché.