In 2017, the NHL decided not to give its players a break to participate in the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The decision came after the NHL and the International Olympic Committee couldn’t agree on how the NHL would be compensated for the costs incurred by the break. Previously, the IOC paid for insurance, travel, and accommodations for players, but it refused to do so for 2018.
While the talent pool in the Olympics will be diminished by the NHL’s decision, Canadians — and hockey fans everywhere — should all root for Polish-Canadian winger Wojtek Wolski. 16 months ago, while playing in the Kontinental Hockey League, Wolski was injured on the ice in a gruesome accident. He slammed into the boards headfirst, resulting in a broken neck and a concussion.
Wojtek Wolski named to Canadian Olympic team 1 year after breaking neck. https://t.co/eagOBmF62C pic.twitter.com/5FFYKxQEdj
— theScore (@theScore) January 11, 2018
Wolski miraculously returned to the KHL this season, playing for the Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Kunlun Red Star, scoring nine goals and 33 points in 40 games. His great performance on the ice earned him a place on Canada’s Olympic team — a miraculous feat for a man who’d been injured so seriously.
“Exactly one year ago today I laid in a hospital bed after having surgery to fix a broken neck,” Wolski said in an emotional Instagram post. “Today I am so proud and excited to have been named to Canada’s Olympic Hockey Team … I look at the picture of me in the hospital and can’t help but cry. Mostly tears of happiness, but I am filled with so many emotions about what I have overcome. I could never have imagined that I would be so lucky one year later.”
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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.