#Retroshare reviews how to#

I made cabbage rolls (or stew, dumplings, lasagna or cookies). I can run errands, shop, drive you to appointments or pick up prescriptions. I have a truck if you need help with moving or making donations. I’m happy to pick up the kids from school.

#Retroshare reviews how to#

Just send a meal or help with a chore.” Here are some examples of how to help when someone dies or is sick: My colleague Karen Barrow, whose mother died recently, put it this way: “Don’t ask how to help - just help. Instead of asking what you can do to help, try making a specific, standing offer describing how you might be able to help. We’ll let you know.”ĭo: Make a specific offer to help. Many friends have kindly called or texted with the question: “What can I do to help?” But in the fog of illness and loss, it’s really hard to know what you might need, so most of the time we just said, “Thanks. No need to reply.”ĭon’t: Ask people what they need. The best texts have been those that shared thoughts of support, offers of help or links to an interesting article, a photo memory or funny video - and then ended with, “Just thinking of you. Texts are less intrusive than phone calls and can be read on our own time. How are you holding up? How are you feeling? What’s the latest? If your text ends with a question mark, it puts the burden on the patient or caregiver to respond.ĭo: Send a text of support. Try to avoid sending a text that requires an answer. Obviously, phone calls are appropriate in certain situations, but my advice is to avoid calling at the height of the illness or crisis if you can.ĭon’t: Text for updates. It made me realize that phone calls during a crisis, although well intentioned, can feel intrusive and tiring. Often, the calls woke him from much-needed sleep. I was surprised how often my father’s cellphone rang and how exhausting it was for him (and me). Here’s a short guide to the dos and don’ts of helping out.ĭo: Think twice before you call. Today, I’m going to share some of the lessons I’ve learned from this experience. What I’ve learned during this experience, though, is that many of those well-meaning calls and texts can sometimes be more of a burden than a help. These are the sort of texts I myself have sent when I’ve reached out to a friend in need. How are you? What can I do to help? Any updates? We both have many friends and colleagues who have called and texted with support. My father, whose wife recently died, was briefly hospitalized himself in January, prompting me to board a plane, dog in tow, to aid his recovery. A recent family crisis has taught me a lot about what it means to be a supportive friend.