As a caregiver there were several of these Pablumesque pieces of supposed advice, which caused me to shudder and get hot under the collar every time I heard them. Early on I was confused as to why they seemed to be repeated over and over to me. Year in, year out! Some folks uttering them only once, others repeating them every time we saw or spoke to one another. The worst was when I would kindly ask the individual to not say it again, explain why, and yet having them continue saying them anyway!

The only rationale I have ever been able to think of is that uttering these bromides serves to make the utterer feel better. To the listener, however, they do nothing. They offer no value and at least with me were akin to rubbing salt into my raw wounds rather than apply any kind of salve.

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