Sticky situation: In our daily lives, from work to the community and even within our very own family, we regularly receive news that may make us uncomfortable and will at times, leave us speechless and paralyzed. To enlighten you, and hopefully prepare you for what to say and do, here are some suggestions.

How should we comfort the bereaved? I can only say what works for me. It may well alienate someone else. I will take hugs, absolutely. I can't get enough of them. And practical help. Bring me a casserole sized for one. Drop off some bagels. Make sure I am eating, because I am not.

I am grateful that my husband lived a long and productive life. So, please do not tell me how to grieve. Spare me the euphemisms. My husband did not "pass." He died. I have not "lost" him: I know exactly where his body is, and his spirit is with me. And. Do. Not. Speak. To. Me. Of. Closure. What a hideous word. Bring me acceptance but, never, closure.

What Nancy Reagan called the long goodbye has, for me, come to an end. My beloved husband has died, peacefully, in his own home, surrounded by people who loved him. It was indeed, a long goodbye. Seven years spent with Alzheimer's. And a final year, playing hide and seek with death.

A close family member recently had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. She passed away last Sunday. Ten days after suffering the heart attack. She had her last dance. Her name was on death's dance card that day.

Our school lost a shining light this week. A little boy -- six years old. He, the lover of hockey, fishing and fun, was taken suddenly, leaving our school community grappling with life and death issues. In my classroom, I turned to the one sure thing I knew could shed some light, love and laughter on an otherwise dark cloud that hovered low. Your books.

After interviewing hundreds of accomplished women over the past few years, in my quest to discover the keys to their success, I have become aware of recurring themes. For many of these successful women, the importance of having a regular meditation practice is not only important; it has been paramount to helping them achieve career and/or overall life success.

What relationship comes with a lifetime guarantee? So back in 1990, I was a man on a mission. I answered an ad from someone HIV-positive in Toronto looking for a serious relationship. Even today, people still have a reaction when you tell them you've dated an HIV-positive person. My friends were supportive of this relationship but my mother for years worried about my contacting HIV. Robert passed away a decade ago. Our relationship opened up a space in my heart that wasn't there before. Risking that initial date with fear taught me existence without love is as a lifeless as a corpse.

Melissa was 22 when she was involved in a car accident in Savanah. She has spent the last eight years recovering, graduating from a wheelchair to crutches, to now walking on her own. Turning her tragedy into something positive has kept Melissa going, helping her to thrive, not just survive.