Ten Things Now

1. Send a card letting the person know you are thinking of him or her - here are some words that can guide you: "I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you. I know that there are no words that can make this difficult time better, but please know that I care and that I remember."

2. Make a donation to a charity that reflects the one who died - for example, if the person was an animal lover, send a donation to the Humane Society or if the person who died was a child, send a donation to his/her school or a pediatric hospital

3. Send a letter describing one thing you will always remember about the one who died

4. Take over food - don't ask, just do it. If you are far away, send a gift card for a restaurant or pizza place that delivers that is located near the grieving person's home.

5. Pick up the phone and call the grieving person - talk about the one who has died.

6. Send a self-care package to the grieving person.

7. Make a date soon to do something together - a walk, a movie, an ice cream - anything.

8. Frame a picture of the one who has died and send/take to the grieving person.

9. Send a package of Forget-Me-Not seeds with a simple note that you remember.

10. Remember anniversaries (one month, two months, six months, etc), birthdays, and holidays with a card or note - nothing fancy, just let the person know you remember and are thinking of him/her.

Repeat caring gestures regularly - well beyond the first two weeks after a death.