5 Things My Family Does to Remember My Late Husband:
- Hang pictures of him
- Look at old letters, emails, photos, and videos regularly
- Throw flowers in waterfalls (for us, usually red carnations - his favorites)
- Annual "sushi-and-a-show" date (dinner + theatre activity, based off of one of our last official dates)
- Eat his favorite foods (my sister eats a California burrito on his birthday)
Some of these my family does regularly, some on scheduled dates. Some of them come up naturally throughout daily life, and some have evolved over the years.
I have found that there are countless ways to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed. If you need a little help developing your own rituals and traditions of remembrance, try to think:
- What memories with my loved one do I treasure most?
- What habits or hobbies did he/she have?
- Where did he/she like to eat out or visit for fun?
- What feelings do I want to be part of my (our my family’s) memorial experience?
Play around with ideas that come and brainstorm to your heart’s content, until you find something that feels meaningful to you.
Then, try out your idea! I hope it helps. And if what you try doesn’t work out, don’t stress it! Give yourself a high five and a hug for the attempt, and just try something else.
And remember, your traditions may evolve with time. That’s ok! Grief evolves, so why shouldn’t your habits and traditions! Be kind to yourself. Accept your own offerings, whatever they may look like at whatever stage you may be in.
If you’re focused on love and what’s emotionally healthy for you, you really can’t go wrong.
