After the loss of my mother, I was
inspired to start writing a book entitled
I Didn't Know What To Say.
After
receiving many sympathy cards from people, I realized how difficult it could
be to find the words to express concern, hope and support for someone when
they have lost a loved one. So I started collecting inspirational and
thoughtful messages my friends and family had sent to me over the years.
This site is inspired to help us all find the words to assist our friends
and family members through a great loss when we
don’t know what to say.
About
Lori Pederson
Founder of I Did Not Know What to Say.com and
Grief Educator
I Didn't Know What To Say.com
was created to inspire and provide you with tools to assist a friend or
family member through the grieving process.
My expertise comes from those experiences that only life can provide.
Over the past 20 years I have lost many family members and several
friends. Namely, my mother who died when she was 50 from ovarian cancer,
my aunt Pam, who died two weeks after my mother in a fatal car crash, my
aunt Carol, who died from melanoma, my grandfather Ted from bone cancer,
my friend Dan at age 28 who died from a rare form of abdominal cancer,
my grandmother Lillian, who died from breast cancer, my grandfather
Magnus- bless him to be the only one who has died of old age at 98, my
pets Red, Jonathan and Harley, and several friends and colleagues along
the way. I am no stranger to loss nor is my family. I mention my loss to
acknowledge that what I write is from the heart and from true-life
experience.
In addition to my many life experiences, I
hold a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from The George
Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from
California State University at Northridge. I have presented workshops in
the area of active listening, handling life’s transitions, and
leadership development for over twenty years and have extensive
experience mentoring and coaching young adults. I am also currently
studying with the Grief Coach Academy.
Throughout my life I have been blessed with
many friends and relatives that were there for me as I went through the
process of grieving to healing. Their thoughtfulness has been an
inspiration to me and I hope to you as well.
I have learned over the years that although
people want to support a grieving loved one, they often don't know where
to start. I
Did Not Know What To Say.com was created out of my passion to assist
people find the words when they don't know what to say or how to be
supportive.
I welcome you to share your experiences and
inspirational messages. As we receive new submissions we will be
posting them on the website.
The smallest of gestures can make a big
difference in someone's life. My hope is that our site will
inspire you to make a difference in the lives of those around you.
With Love and Gratitude,
Lori
Telesummits
![itsabouthowyoulive](images/21314436_10155060211678163_4577342152658531641_n.png)
Listen to Lori Pederson's Interview
Recent Press
Coverage & Articles
We would like to express our
deep gratitude to the many newsletters, blogs and websites that have
featured our website.
As Seen On:
October 2014 -
10 ways to help a grieving
loved one
by
Lori Pederson
We are
very honored to be
included in
reimagine's
online magazine.
Reimagine is a new
online platform for people
who have been touched by
cancer.
Reimagine's digital
health and wellness
magazine features stories,
videos and images to
inform and empower
readers. In
addition to the
magazine, the foundation
of the company is
education.
Reimagine teaches
online classes with live
teachers so you can learn
skills to take your life
back from cancer.
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![Grief Tele Summit](images/1601140_789620637718793_1186739137_n.jpg) |
We are honored to
be included as one of the
17 Speakers at the
Grief Healing Telesummit!
Listen to Lori Pederson's
interview
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Creating Calm Network
Broadcast Group
The
Grammar of Grief with
Uma Girish
Interview with Lori
Pederson: What to say
(and not to say) to
someone who is grieving
- August 20, 2014
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Click to Listen
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![womens day](images/wd.gif) |
Learn
what you shouldn’t mention
to someone going through a
loss by Laurie Sue
Brockway
Thank you Laurie
Sue for including us in
your article!
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October 2011 - Lori
Pederson featured on page
71 We would
like to express our
gratitude to Lexie
Brockway Potamkin for
including us in her newest
book "What is Death". |
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October 5, 2010 -
What to Say… When You Don’t Know What To Say
featured on
Storybooks for Healing
February 2010
- Lori Pederson, Founder
interviewed by Jill Rheaume -
Stress and Dealing with Loss featured on
www.ourstressfullives.com.
May 7, 2009 -
What to
Say... When You Don’t Know What To Say
featured in
Life Preservers -
In The Flow newsletter.
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