Every once in a while, a relative of somebody at work dies, and we pass around a condolence card for people to sign and contribute money to a charitable cause.  Nothing wrong with that.  But every time a card reaches my desk, I sit there for what feels like forever, reading the things people have already written and trying to come up with something different to write.  All the usual things are taken, like "Sorry for your loss," "Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family," "Please let me know if there's anything I can do."  What else can you possibly say?  How many people can write the same thing before it gets old?  Is what I write really that important?  Do people actually read these cards?  Can I write what I'm really thinking, something like, "I can't imagine how you must feel now that your relative died.  I hope you find some sort of constructive and healthy way to deal with it, because I know I'd be an emotion mess and wouldn't know how to function."  After I've stared at the card for long enough, I usually just end up signing my name because I can't think of a better thing to do. #sociology