“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.”
― Shannon L. Alder
See also
Excerpt from “**How You Can Support Someone with a Chronic Illness”* by Creaky Joints.*
Compassion is not: Telling people to try turmeric, lose weight, exercise more, or any other unsolicited advice. Just don’t — even if it comes from the goodness of your heart.
Compassion is: Getting ice packs for someone, doing a difficult task that might put someone into a flare, or going out of your way to do anything that could “save some spoons.” In other words, real compassion is helping and letting your actions speak louder than words. And it’s OK to ask how to help if you don’t know how but want to.
Also, it’s OK if you can’t help physically offer help. Empathy refers more generally to the ability to take the perspective of and feel the emotions of another person. When others are empathetic, it just helps us feel a little less alone.
Empathy is not: Saying “everyone experiences aches and pains” or “everyone gets tired” or “it is what it is.”
Empathy is: Saying “I am sorry” or “I imagine that must be difficult to manage” or “I am here for you.”