When someone’s waiting on scary news, don’t fill the air with advice. Just be there. Company beats commentary.
STILLNESS
WHAT THIS MEANS
Advice in that situation is usually for the person giving it. Talking makes you feel useful while the other person has to manage your words on top of their own fear, and most of what gets offered they have already thought of. What actually helps is less interesting: being next to them, staying normal, not needing them to be okay.
Go and do something ordinary with them. Sit on the bus, play a game, eat lunch, watch something stupid. Say one short honest thing, that you are glad to be there or that it sounds hard, and then let the conversation be about whatever they want.
A QUESTION TO SIT WITH
Who is waiting on hard news and just needs you nearby?
MORE IN PATIENCE & TIMING
- Swimmers who blow everything on the first lap pay for it on the last. Pace yourself for the whole race you’re in.
- Some people hit their growth spurt at twelve, some at seventeen. Bodies don’t read the group’s schedule.
- A no from a team, a school or a person is a no for now. Ask again later with more to show.
Free, with nothing to buy inside it.