JUST BE THERE

Recently a CNN headline titled, “A Boy With Autism Broke Down At An Orlando Theme Park. The Employee Saved The Day” caught my eye and upon reading the story I learned that 9 year old Ralph had his heart set on visiting the Amazing Adventures of Spider Man and was very patient waiting until the end of the family’s visit to get to it. As the family neared that venue '“Ralph bubbled over with excitement. But with the ride vehicles in sight Spider Man broke down.” His mother’s post on Facebook described her son’s meltdown as he “lay sprawled on the floor…screaming and crying so hard he could barely breathe…and his parents tried to peel him off the ground.” That’s when a Spider Man employee lay down next to Ralph. Not only did she let him cry and helped him breathe but she told him it was OK to be sad. They both stayed there on the ground until Ralph felt better. He then smiled and thanked her.

What have you done when a friend, colleague or family member shared their emotions or words of grief, stress or fear? Did you try to solve their problem, distract them or offer a platitude that all will be ok?

What can you do next time you are in that situation?

JUST BE THERE……………LISTEN - OFFER A HUG - BE PATIENT - WITNESS ……….. JUST BE THERE

And remember SAD IS NOT BAD, It’s How We Grieve After We’ve Loved and it’s how we grieve when we have lost our hope, dream or expectation.

-Harriet