June 2013 IssueVol 4, Issue 12

 

I Did Not Know 

What To Say  

Newsletter

Dear (Contact First Name),

WELCOME EVERYONE! We are grateful that you have chosen to be a part of our online community.

Explore our past newsletters and share with a friend.  Over the last several years we have provided articles and interviews on a variety of topics on how to assist a loved one through the journey of restoring balance in their life after a loss. I have put together a resource list below for you to explore and/or pass on to a loved one that might benefit from these tools.

 

If there is a specific topic that you would like us to include in one of our upcoming newsletters, please email us.

 

Website Updates. We are in the process of creating pages that provide resources for specific types of losses. Please visit our website to see how we are progressing. If you have a resource or story you would like to share, please email us.

 

Do you have an inspirational story you would like to share? We invite you to submit your inspirational stories, letters that have reached your heart, a favorite quote or poem, an unforgettable outing, or a book that touched your life. We would love to hear from you. 

 

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable summer!  

 

With Love and Gratitude, 

 

 

 Lori   

   

 "Grief can take care of itself but to get the full value of joy, you must have somebody to divide it with"
-Mark Twain

In This Issue
Featured Article
Thoughtful Sympathy Gifts
About Us
Quick Links


Pass It On 
Forward to a Friend
 
Join our Mailing List!
  
Our Past Newsletters are Now Available.

Click Here for our Newsletter Archives.
 Featured Article

ArchiveI Did Not Know What To Say Newsletter Archive

 

Our past issues are listed below for you to explore and pass on to your friends and family that may find the information helpful.

 

Understanding Grief

 

Dr. Miller explores the differences between Grief and Depression.

 

Helping Dispel 5 Common Myths About Grief
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.,
Alan D. Wolfelt's article describes five of the most common myths about grief. Through understanding and overcoming these myths we can find positive ways to help ourselves and others heal.
 

Anticipating Grief
by Cheryline Lawson
Cheryline's article gives an overview of how anticipating the loss of a loved one that is terminally ill can affect family, friends and the person who is dying.  
 

 

How to Support and Care for a Grieving Loved One

 

What To Say... When You Don't Know What To Say 
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Finding the words to support a loved one through the grieving process.

 

What Not to Say to a Grieving Loved One  
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Knowing what not to say can be just as important as finding the right words to comfort a  loved one when they are grieving.

 

SHOULD I OR SHOULDN'T I? 
by Ann Leach, President, Life Preservers: a global grief support community

Ann's article will give you concrete ways to provide support in the simplest of ways to a     
grieving loved one.

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Helpful way to assist your love one find fun & adventure again. 

 

by Joan Hitchens, Storybooks for Healing

Tips on how writing about a loved one can be an effective tool for those grieving to process their feelings and help them restore balance in their life.

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

After the loss of a loved one, there is nothing more important you can do for a friend than being a good listener.  The Gift of Listening offers 10 Tips on how to improve your listening skills.

 

by Jill Rheaume, Creator, Our Stressful Lives

Jill's article will explore healthy ways to handle the little and big stressors in your life.
 

by Tamar Fox

Tips to take into consideration if you're called on to bring food to a family member or friend who's ill, recovering from surgery, or dealing with a recent loss. 

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

You just received a phone call letting you know that your friend has lost a loved one. You now have a decision to make...What kind of supporter do you want to be? 

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Tips on how to choose a sympathy gift that expresses your deep concern.

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Sharing gratitude to those that have provided support during a loss.

 

Walk Beside Me and Be My Friend

by Nan Zastrow 
Explores how relationships can change after the event of grief. Some relationships will strengthen, some relationships will end and new relationships will begin. 


Please Cut the Grieving Some Slack

by Maribeth Coye Decker, Sacred Grove Bodywork

This article reminds us that we are all human and that we need to let kindness and forgiveness guide us when we encounter strange behaviors from those that are grieving.

 

Reaching out to the bereaved and getting no response

by Robbie Miller Kaplan, Author How to Say It, When You Don't Know What to Say

Explores the reasons why someone may not respond when they are grieving and how to not take it personally.

 

How to Talk to Someone Who is Grieving

by Rachel Walton, MSN, CRNP
Rachel's article offers many valuable suggestions on how to talk to and more importantly listen to someone who is grieving.

 

Effective Communication Skills During Grief and Mourning Following a Family or Relationship Death
by Rick Goodfriend

Rick Goodfriend's article offers several useful suggestions on how to communicate effectively with a loved one that is grieving. 
 

Interview with Robbie Miller Kaplan - How to Say It, When You Don't Know What to Say

 


How to Support a Grieving Loved One during the Holidays

 

The First Holidays After a Loss - How You Can Offer Your Support
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Tips on how to support a grieving friend or family member as they experience the holidays for the first time without their loved one.

 

Helping Children Grieve during the Holidays
by Miri Rossitto founder of Valley of Life memorial website & author of

Useful suggestions on how to assist a grieving child express their feelings of sadness as well as honor the memory of the loved one that passed away.

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Having the support of friends and family during the holidays can make all the difference. Sometimes support and love are the best gifts you can give a friend that is grieving.

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Sometimes the perfect gift is not perfect at all. It is your willingness to look awkward and not know what to say, and yet still show up and be there for a friend that is grieving that matters most.

 

by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Holidays can be a difficult time for those that are grieving. We have compiled a list of 12 simple and meaningful ways to support your grieving friends this holiday season.

 

Thanksgiving Memories: Love, Loss and Good Eats

by Gloria Arenson, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist 

A wonderful reminder of the simple ways to remember a loved one during the holidays.

 

 

How to Support a Grieving Window/Widower

 

by Marcy Kelly, Author of From Sorrow to Dancing

Marcy has provided us with her insights and suggestions on how to assist a grieving widow.

 

by Carole Brody Fleet, Author of Widows Wear Stilettos
Carol offers several fun filled suggestions on how to get through - and even enjoy Valentine's Day when you are a widow or on your own.

 

by Taryn Davis, Founder, The American Widow Project

Writings & Tips for those who know someone who has lost their hero in the military.

 

How To Date/Marry A Widow or Widower

by Ellen Gerst

Grief and Relationship Coach, Ellen Gerst, offers several practical suggestions on how to be sensitive to your partner's loss and at the same time grow your relationship.

 

Interview with Pat Nowak - ABC's of Widowhood

 

Interview with Ellen Gerst - Love After Loss: Writing The Rest of Your Story

 

Interview with Carole Brody Fleet - Widows Wear Stilettos

 

Interview Marcy Kelly - From Sorrow to Dancing

 

Interview with Lori A. Moore - Missing Andy

 

Interview with Michael Corrigan - A Year and a Day

 

Interview with Jennifer Hawkins - The Gift Giver

 


Suicide Survivors

 

Helping a Suicide Survivor Heal

by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.

Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. article provides many useful strategies on how to support your friends and family dealing with this type of loss.

 

The Myths Surrounding Suicide

by Catherine Greenleaf

Catherine Greenleaf offers insightful information on how to assist a loved one that is a suicide survivor.

 

Interview with Catherine Greenleaf - Healing The Hurt Spirit: Daily Affirmations for People Who Have Lost a Loved One to Suicide

 


How to Support a Grieving Mom

 

What Grieving Moms Want for Mother's Day: The Comfort Company Offers 10 Simple Ways to help Moms Cope When Mother's Day Hurts

Survey conducted by the Comfort Company - What Grieving Moms Want for Mother's Day is a compilation of over 200 survey responses on how you can help the grieving moms in your life cope with Mother's Day.

 

Broken Angel

by Janet Kohn, Co-Founder The Broken Angels Grief Support Group
Janet offers a simple, yet profound way to explain to friends how grief changes parents who have lost a child to substance abuse.
 
Am I a Mother - Tips for Handling Mother's Day After Miscarriage
by Lisa Church of HopeXchange

Lisa Church's article explores how to ease the pain of the loss of a pregnancy and how to find hope and healing.  For friends and family, Lisa's article is a great resource on how to offer your support on Mother's Day.


Loss from a Miscarriage and Stillborn
 

Interview with Veronica Janus - Abundantly More 

 

Interview with Laura Smith - In All Things Giving Thanks When Hope Seems Lost 

 


How to Support a Grieving Dad
 

 

by Kelly Farley, Founder of the Grieving Dad's Project

Many men feel alone in their grief after the loss of a child. Kelly Farley, Founder of the Grieving Dad's Project, offers many ways to support grieving dads by sharing his personal story.

 

Interview with Kelly Farley - Grieving Dads: To The Brink and Back

 


Loss of a Parent

 

Mother's Day Remembrance
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say

Tips on how to support a loved one who is grieving the loss of their mom on Mother's Day.

 

by Janell Vasquez of Memories are Forever

Janell's article offers many suggestions on how to create a lasting tribute by designing a personalized memory book to honor your father's memory. 

 

by Laurie Mueller, RTC, ID, AED, Med

Laurie Mueller offers practical tips to honor the important men in your life that have passed away.

 

Interview with Chelsea Hanson - Sympathy Matters Collection

 

 

Loss of a Pet
 
 

Loss of a Pet - How to Bring Comfort to a Grieving Friend
 
by Lori Pederson, Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say
Lori's article offers several suggestions on how to support a friend that is grieving the loss of their beloved pet.

 

Support & Resources for Traumatic Loss and Natural Disasters

Natural Disaster Recovery Guide

by Dwight Bain

Dwight Bain's article is an insightful look at the emotional side of disaster recovery.

 

Resources for Traumatic Loss 

Resources and helpful tips on ways to support those that are grieving in the wake of a tragedy. If you have a resource to share, please email us at [email protected]

 

How to Support a Grieving Child

Interview with Lynn S. Combes - A Garden Full of Butterflies

Thoughtful Sympathy Gift Ideas

Sympathy Gifts 

 

garden stone  Memories Stone
 

Visit our Thoughtful Sympathy Gifts page for a wide variety of sympathy gift ideas for your loved ones. We hope the thoughtful gifts listed on our website inspire you to give warmth and joy to your friends and family in their time of need.


 

About I Did Not Know What To Say.com & Lori Pederson
 
LoriLori Pederson created I Did Not Know What To Say in April 2009 as a platform to inspire and provide resources to people that wanted to help their friends and family through the grieving process. 
 
Lori's expertise comes from those experiences that only life can provide.  Over the past twenty years, Lori has lost many family members, including her mother to ovarian cancer, as well as many friends, colleagues and pets.  She is no stranger to loss and the grieving process.
 
Throughout her life she has been blessed with many friends and relatives that were there for her as she experienced these great losses. She understands that although people want to help, they often don't know where to start.  I Did Not Know What To Say.com was created out of Lori's desire to assist people find the words when they don't know what to say or do.
 
You can learn more about Lori and her organization by visiting www.ididnotknowwhattosay.com, reading her personal Blog or contacting her at:
 
Lori Pederson
[email protected]
   

Each week we will be adding new inspirational stories and resources to our website and Blog.  Help us reach our goal of providing inspiration and insight to the world by sharing your story or resource with our online community.  We would love to hear from you! 
Share Your Story. Please email us your inspirational stories, letters/cards that have reached your heart, a favorite quote, an unforgettable adventure, a thoughtful gift idea, a book that touched your life, or a suggestion for our website or newsletter to
[email protected]. 

If you are an author or expert in the field of grief recovery, we would love to interview you for our Blog and/or one of our upcoming newsletters.
 

If you have a website, Blog or newsletter, we ask that you consider including our information on your site.  Here is the link:   

I Did Not Know What To Say
 
IDidNotKnowWhatToSay.com is a website created to inspire and provide you with tools to assist a love one through the grieving process.
 
 

With Love & Gratitude,

Lori 

Founder, I Did Not Know What To Say


 
Copyright 2013' I Did Not Know What To Say(TM) Newsletter.  All Rights Reserved.