Thoughtful Sympathy Gift Ideas – KindNotes

We are very pleased to announce the addition of the KindNotes™  to our Thoughtful Gift Ideas page on our website at http://www.ididnotknowwhattosay.com/gifts-unique.html.

About KindNotes™

How often do you receive letters from someone in your life (forget about all the bills and advertising pieces that bombard your mail box)? Do you remember it feeling more personal in comparison to a quickly drafted e-mail? Maybe you didn’t notice it then, but the Founder of certainly did and remembers those moments.

The first idea of KindNotes began four years ago as a gift the Founder had made for her then-boyfriend-now-husband. She thought about the pleasant feeling of receiving a personal letter in the mail each day, but soon-after thought the long letters might just scare him away instead! So she wrote 31 short notes onto small pieces of paper, stuffed them into plain miniature envelopes and put them in an embellished jar. Her husband then began each day with a note that made him smile.

Three years later, she and her husband decided to share the idea and make it available to everyone, knowing that people have no time, have trouble thinking of unique gifts, or have a difficult time expressing their thoughts. They want to provide a service that tailors to their customers’ preferences, even if it means investing a good amount of time hand-making each jar of KindNotes. The customization wizard is one of the most important features of KindNotes, giving shoppers an opportunity to add their personal touch to the gift.

People out there are beginning each day with a smile and just thinking of that makes our day!

For more gift ideas, please visit our Thoughtful Gifts page on our website at www.ididnotknowwhattosay.com/gifts.html

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October 2009-Featured Article:

The Simple Ingredients for a Less Stressful Life by Jill Rheaume
Jill Rheaume is the owner and creator of www.OurStressfulLives.com

Stress. Stress creeps into all parts of our lives when we let it. We can even be stressed when we’re happy. But when we’re sad, stress seems magnified like our lives are moving in slides on the big screen…

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Our Newsletter includes tips, articles and inspirational stories on how to assist your friends and family members through the journey of restoring balance in their life after the death of a love one.
Plus
You will receive my FREE Special Report, “Twenty-Five Supportive Things You Can Do For Someone That Has Lost a Loved One ~ Plus Ten Thoughtful Gift Ideas”

What To Say… When You Don’t Know What To Say by Lori Pederson

When my mother passed away, I received a card from a friend of mine that touched me so deeply I can still remember it 16 years later.  The card was humorous and the note he wrote was the perfect balance of empathy, humor and reality.  You see Chris had lost his father about a month before I had lost my mom and he knew intimately what I was going through.  This card was the cornerstone to developing the website www.IDidNotKnowWhatToSay.com.   I wanted to encourage people to be thoughtful and supportive of their friends and family when they are going through a great loss.  The topic of death is difficult and many people “freeze” when the subject comes up.  Our website is dedicated to helping you find the words when you don’t know what to say.

 

Put your heart into it.  There are many ways to express your deep concern and support for a friend or family member when they have lost a loved one.  I have found that when you put your heart into what you write it makes all the difference.  One of the cards I received simply said, “I just wanted you to know that I have been thinking about you all week, and I will keep you in my prayers.”  It was from a friend’s mother that I did not know very well, but I was so touched that she would take the time to send a card.  I could feel the love and sincerity in the note and it made a lasting impression on me.

Know your audience.  People have many belief systems when it comes to death, grief and the burial process.  Religion, culture, family experiences, personality, the age of the person and their gender can all impact how they handle the grieving process.  It is important to take these factors into consideration and not diminish the person’s feelings or beliefs.  This is not a time to “preach” to someone.  It is a time to reach out and open your heart.

 

Offer your support.  The most fundamental thing you can offer someone in grief is your support.   My friend Michele sent me this note after my mom passed away,“We will be there to do those things you are not able to” and she really was.  She helped make phone calls to my family the night my mom passed away, she was there at the memorial service, and was there through all the ups and downs as I recovered from this great loss.

 

I have found that most people appreciate knowing you care and that you are there to support them. A simple note of encouragement like this one can make all the difference: “Please know that I’m willing to help you out in any way you might need me to during this difficult time. I’d love to bring your family dinner or take you out for coffee if you ever need to talk.”

My old roommate used to send me cards on my mom’s birthday as a reminder that she was thinking of me. My aunt sends her sister-in-law a card on the anniversary of her son’s death just to let her know that she is not alone.  

 

I am deeply appreciative of all the love and encouragement I have received from my friends and family through the many losses in my life.  My greatest hope is that everyone receives that kind of deep support when they are going through a loss.

 

 

© 2009 Lori Pederson
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:  Lori Pederson, Founder of I Did Not Know What To Say, a website built to inspire and to provide you with tools to assist a love one through the grieving process.   If you would like our free newsletter on how to assist your friends and family members through the journey of restoring balance in their life after the death of a love one, please visit our website at www.ididnotknowwhattosay.com.

 

 

Thoughtful Sympathy Gift Ideas – The Comfort Company

We are very pleased to announce the addition of the The Comfort Company Sympathy Gifts to our Thoughtful Gift Ideas page on our website at www.ididnotknowwhattosay.com/gifts.html.

The mission of The Comfort Company is to simplify the difficult process of expressing sympathy by offering a meaningful selection of non-traditional gifts designed to acknowledge loss rather than to minimize it. Words of sympathy do not come easily and comforting sympathy gifts are difficult to find. With this in mind, The Comfort Company has carefully selected or custom designed a meaningful collection of sympathy poems and cards, bereavement and condolence gift ideas with the hope of bringing comfort and remembrance to those who are grieving.

Special Savings for the Holidays – Visit our website for more details.

 For more gift ideas, please visit our Thoughtful Gifts page on our website at www.ididnotknowwhattosay.com/gifts.html

Don’t Forget to Sign Up for our Free Monthly Newsletter !
http://www.ididnotknowwhattosay.com/mailinglist.html

Our Newsletter includes tips, articles and inspirational stories on how to assist your friends and family members through the journey of restoring balance in their life after the death of a love one.
Plus
You will receive my FREE Special Report, “Twenty-Five Supportive Things You Can Do For Someone That Has Lost a Loved One ~ Plus Ten Thoughtful Gift Ideas”