Losing someone is hard, especially if that person is a close friend or family. It can take months or even years for people to accept the loss and begin to heal. When someone close to you loses a loved one, it can be tricky helping them through the grieving process.
It’s even trickier when the person is a colleague. You may wonder to what extent you should go while still maintaining a professional relationship. If you are close friends with that colleague, you may need to do even more. Whatever the case, here are some heartwarming gift ideas that can help your colleague through their grieving process.
Sympathy Flowers
Flowers are the most popular way to send your love to a grieving person. Sometimes words are not enough, and it’s hard knowing how to say the right things. But with flowers, you can never go wrong.
Sympathy flowers are a kind gesture that helps a grieving person know that you are thinking of them and wishing them well through the difficult time. From roses, orchids, lilies, carnations and hyacinths, there are so many options to choose from. Each flower has its own special meaning.
For instance, lilies bloom in the summer and are often considered a sign of rebirth and renewal. In other words, it offers hope and encouragement. Just as the name suggests, forget-me-nots are an emblem of remembrance and strength. Peach roses represent purity and gratitude and are perfect for showing appreciation for the life of the person who has just passed on.
Make sure you only send flowers that have high-quality blooms. That way, your flowers don’t end up being a burden on the receiver. Thankfully, there are several stores online that specialize in unique floral arrangements. When on a search for beautiful flower arrangements, make sure you consider this one from Bouqs.
A Journal
Journaling is one of the best ways to help a grieving person heal. Writing things down allows us to process our thoughts and feelings and compels us to think slowly and work through all of those emotions in a productive way. In writing, you can vent, burst out, and freely express your innermost feelings in ways others cannot understand. Additionally, journaling helps document the entire process of grief and improve our emotional and physical health.
That’s why a journal is an excellent gift for a grieving colleague. In choosing a journal, there are some things you should consider. First, select a journal that fits the needs and personality of your colleague. Ideally, buy a diary in their favorite color or style. Find out whether your colleague would prefer a small or big journal, one that easily fits in their pocket or one that fits into a backpack.
You can also go for diaries that have writing prompts. These are beneficial for people who usually experience writer’s block. To make the gift special, add a brief note on the first page of the journal. Also, add a special pen for writing.
A Gift Basket
What better way to let someone know you are thinking about them than sending a handmade gift basket. Of course, you can purchase a prepackaged gift basket in a mall or online, but it cannot compare to the personal touch a DIY gift basket offers.
Since you know your grieving colleague best, select items that would be helpful and meaningful to them. You can choose a wide range of items from special paper goods to more luxurious items such as a bath set. Other items that you can put in your basket include flowers, books, teas, blankets, fruits and sweets.
When people are grieving, they often feel tired and not interested in doing chores. You can step in and offer a helping hand. For instance, offer to babysit their kids or do their shopping for them. Also, you can prepare meals for them and deliver them to their house.
Books
Photo credit: Josh Hild
Everyone deals with grief differently. However, one common theme is that people want a healthy distraction at times. That’s where books come in handy. Reading books can take a person’s mind away from the pain and help them through the grieving process.
Find books that the grieving colleague likes or one that they have wanted to read for a while. The best books, however, are ones that focus on grief. Take Sheryl Sandberg’s book “Option B” as an example. The Facebook COO suddenly found her husband dead during a vacation in Mexico, driving her into deep grief and pain.
After her recovery, she, alongside Wharton professor Adam Grant, wrote: “Option B” that details her story and her healing process. Anyone who has lost a loved one and is grieving can easily identify with Sheryl’s book and learn important lessons from it.
Other helpful books include “Resilient Grieving” by Lucy Hone, “I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye” by Brook Noel and Pamela Blair, “A Grief Observed” by C.S. Lewis, and “When Bad Things Happens to Good People” by Harold Kushner.
Offer to Step In
It’s hard to work effectively while grieving. The memories can lead to mood swings, tiredness, and even depression, especially in the immediate aftermath of the death. To lend a helping hand, offer to step in and provide cover for your colleague.
If you work in the same department or do the same work, offer to step in and take over your colleague’s clients and accounts. Otherwise, find other colleagues and have them to pitch in and help while the grieving colleague is away.
If the grieving person has already taken their leave, it may not be possible to take days off easily. But that’s where you come in. Talk to senior management and let them know that other workers are prepared to provide cover. Your offer will help your colleague take a few days off, rest, and heal.
Aside from work, you can offer to do some of the heavy lifting regarding funeral planning and preparation. For instance, if they are hosting a wake or memorial service, offer to help clean the home or prepare the food to organize the service.
Be There
Of all the gifts you can ever give to a grieving person, the best gift you can give is yourself. Your presence will mean more to the grieving person than just presents. That’s why you should be there and available. Sometimes, you may need to be there to listen to their pain and hurt. Offer a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on to help your colleague through their difficult time.
Feature photo by Armin Rimoldi
