I was awkward. I didn't know what to say if a friend lost someone. Will it make them feel worse if I say anything? I often chose silence. That was wrong. Acknowledging a person who is gone might bring up sad feelings, but those are secondary to the gratitude felt towards the person who reached out.

I haven't been touched by much tragedy, so a lot of these feelings are new.

Here's my advice gained from this new experience. If you know someone who has lost a loved one, reach out. "Sorry for your loss" may sound cliche, but it helps the recipient. Awkwardly ignoring it is the wrong way to go.