Because I wrote about her blog. My motive was not to get a pat on the back, the suggestion was write a post about a blog you enjoy and that is what I did. To read what she wrote in her thanks to me, made me smile, gave me a goofy grin. It brightened her day.

Many times I don’t say anything when someone is down, I am afraid I will say the wrong thing and make them feel worse. Or maybe be taken as a platitude because all I can up with is what everyone else has already said. Unlike a friend who can be there, when the only place you know someone is online, how can you be there for them? Some have extended their figurative hand by putting out their e-mail, by letting people contact them through personal messages on Twitter and FaceBook. I also hesitate before taking that step.

It’s not from a lack of caring, it the result of extending my hand and getting it slapped. I understand that when people are hurting they may not want or be able to push someone away gently, it still hurts. I get hurt, then I feel guilty. Once again I have done the wrong thing and hurt someone I wanted to help. Just like saying the wrong thing can hurt, saying nothing can also hurt. Which begs the question, which hurts more? Is it better to err on being considered thoughtless, or being considered a bumbling fool?

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