Self-compassion in times of sadness
written by Andrea Weber
Sad news can come at any time and usually when we’re least expecting it to be there.
I recently learned of a friend’s declining health. Emotions came pouring in, everything from saddness to regret and a host of feelings in between.
This person had been a shining light in my life whenever we had shared a happy conversation or even a small amount of time together. Easily described as a ‘salt of the earth’ person, they had a reassuring calmness, words of wisdom and a cheeky sense of humour.
In terms of life, they were all in! Walking, gardening, building things, reading things, tending to things; they were always on the go.
I hadn’t seen them in quite a long time and this was something I had been meaning to do but hadn’t gotten around to organising.
I know I’m not alone in this happening, where the responsibilities we have in life can be overwhelming, taking all the capacity we have at the time, leaving little room for anything else.
News like this comes along and we’re not only filled with sadness for the person and all that they’re facing but also for the opportunities that we ourselves may have missed or may not have made time for.
Our hearts are made heavy with disappointment in what we should have been able to do or manage in this regard. We can be really hard on ourselves for not trying harder.
The reality is however, that we are more than likely doing the best that we can to manage things and in these moments of reflection, we can give ourselves compassion. The judgement stops and we simply remember.
Life gives us happiness as well as sadness and like a comforting hug, it can bring us a good deal of both at the same time. In contemplating everything, I fondly remembered this person, their kindness of spirit, their sense of humour and the blessings I now hold in coming to know them.
The gentle energy of beautiful memories has a way of reaching people in times of need and I’m hoping this has provided some comfort, even with distance between.
For those who are feeling this sadness, may you be supported and held in kindness and compassion.
21 February 2026, Andrea Weber , Expansive Happiness®
Image by Aaron Burden, Unsplash. Thank you for sharing your creativity.
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