Last Saturday we held a workday to build one of the winning school garden designs from our project Design a School Garden with LAUSD (and We'll Build It). With cooperation from LAUSD's Sustainable Schoolyards group, we were able to build two Four Square Gardens, designed by Jill Desimini, at the 28th Street Elementary School in downtown Los Angeles. More than 100 volunteers, parents, and students spent LAUSD's first annual Martin Luther King day of service hammering together raised beds, painting storage bins bright orange and yellow, refreshing and replanting planters, and picking up every piece of trash on the school's property. Now the school is bright and clean, and the garden is ready to be planted by the students.
Thanks to Starbucks for donating coffee, Homegirl Cafe for breakfast, Mayor Villaraigosa's office for morning snacks and lunch (including a delicious bison sandwich by Large Marge Sustainables), DCM for water, and Home Depot for plants and soil. And we never could have made it through the day if it wasn't for our DJs, Bennett Schimd, Sara T. from Indie 103, and Nicole Cifani. And finally, a huge thanks to L.A. Conservation Corps, Tracy Bartley, Teresa Dahl, Astrid Diehl from Mia Lehrer + Associates, and Mud Baron, who helped make this workday, and this garden, a reality. Check out the photos above and stay tuned for the next garden workday—we have four more designs to build!
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.