BECAUSE WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS GOING THROUGH HELL, YOU DON’T NEED THE PERFECT WORDS.

There’s a phrase that gets thrown around a lot when women hit menopause: “It’s a new season of life.”

There are some moments in life when there really isn’t a clever thing to say. No silver lining. No life lesson. No inspirational quote that somehow makes cancer, grief, divorce or heartbreak feel like a character-building exercise. And definitely no “everything happens for a reason.” Sometimes something happens and the most honest, most human thing you can say is: “This is really shit. I’m so sorry.” And honestly? It might be one of the kindest things you can say.