How Can I Help?Whenever you notice that someone has posted on the Kindness Bench, you can stop by to see what friendly words of encouragement you might be able to share with that person.
Sometimes we need different types of responses to help us get back on track. Here are some of the ways you might offer support:
Listen: Sometimes people just need to vent. Knowing that someone is hearing what we're saying can help a lot!
Lighten the mood: Being able to laugh about something and see that it's not so serious, after all, can sometimes be a great help!
Share similar experiences: When we hear that others have been in the same situation we have, it can often help us feel better. And often, we can learn from others' experiences.
Offer suggestions and solutions: When we are open to advice, hearing others' suggestions can be a great way to find solutions we might not have thought of.
Provide a different perspective: Sometimes, being able to look at our writing, gaming, and creative projects in a new way is just what we need.
Offer to read the other person's work, to provide feedback, or to brainstorm.
You might ask the person what type of help they'd like. Sometimes we know when we just need to vent, or when we need somebody to brainstorm with us, or to help us see things in new ways.
For more thoughts about different ways to help, check out Tara Mohr's 6 Kinds of Conversations. 
