This is such a good reminder, Danielle. When people tell me they've gotten divorced, I'll awkwardly say in a questioning voice, "I'm sorry?" "Congratulations?" I try to at least be awkwardly honest and supportive.

I learned the harm of platitudes when I repeated the popular early 90s saying, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" accompanied by that iconic yellow smiley face in my head. I was saying this to a friend who genuinely needed help and I didn't know it. Lesson learned.