She was avoiding meeting her friend. It caused too much upset to look at her.

I was speaking to a woman lately and she was telling me how her best friend was dying. She was only in her forties and leaving a husband and two children behind. She told me how she was finding it hard to cope. She was avoiding meeting her friend. It caused too much upset to look at her. It made her stomach churn. She said that she just couldn’t bear watching her fade away and almost felt guilty that she was so healthy and happy.

Sometimes people react this way to something they don’t like. That’s why it’s so important not to assume that someone who should visit and doesn’t is less a friend than you think. I was also speaking to a man whose wife is suffering from dementia. He started to list the names of all the people who have disappointed him – friends that don’t call to see his wife and relatives who do not even phone him to enquire. All of this would never happen if we all just decided to be the best possible friend to our friends when they are in need or crisis. That’s the advice I gave the woman with her best friend dying. Be the best possible friend to her especially now in her time of need. This will help her cope after she loses her friend. It’s remarkable the power of compassion has and the holistic benefits of it after each act.