Midwest Living
7 Ways to Live Well Now
A Minnesota mom's thoughtful care packages help you send love to friends who need it the most. Plus, ideas for cruelty-free lipsticks, an exceptionally flavorful bread and farm-to-front-door delivery services for humanely raised meat….
1) Send a Care Package When someone is going through tough times, it’s hard to know what to do or say. Catherine Hinz has felt it from both sides. The St. Paul entrepreneur had a new baby when she discovered infidelity in her marriage—and her world came crashing down. “I watched my family and friends wanting to help but almost feeling paralyzed that they didn’t know how,” she says. Struggling, she joined support groups and learned how others were coping with grief. Then, she started shopping. “It was the ultimate retail therapy, thinking about what could be practical for people who were grieving, and yet be beautiful and simple at the same time,” Catherine says. In 2018, she launched Beyond Words Company, selling curated care packages filled with items like tea, candles and sleep masks. You can send a personal message with your package, and Catherine offers suggestions for situations such as death, miscarriage, divorce, cancer and pet loss.
How to Help
Be Specific Rather than ask if there’s anything you can do, offer distinct ways to help, such as running errands, watching children or mowing the lawn.
Be Present Don’t feel pressure to have the exact right words. Oftentimes, there may be none. Aim to be present and a good listener to help your friend feel heard.
Be Respectful Avoid saying, “You’ll get over this.” It puts pressure on a grieving person that healing should happen in a certain way or time frame.