The Healing Power of Memory and How to Keep Loved Ones Close

It’s no secret that losing a loved one is hard. Many people may believe that once they lose someone, that’s it. There’s nothing left of them and nothing left to do or say with the departed. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are lots of ways to honor someone’s memory and keep them close to you. A bonus of practicing some of these rituals is that they may help you process your grief. As you go on to practice these rituals, they may change over time. This is because as you change and evolve, so may your practices.

How Can I Honor And Keep My Loved One Close?

If you are at a loss for how to keep honoring your loved one once the funeral is over, try getting creative. What did they enjoy doing in their spare time? What did they like or dislike? These are the questions to ask when creating ways to feel closer to them.

Listen To Their Favorite Album

You could listen to their favorite song. But why stop there? Listen to their absolute favorite album and really think about them while you’re listening. Does this album sound like something they would love or did it throw you for a loop? Do the lyrics make you think of them in some way? How does the music make you feel in return? Asking yourself these questions while listening will help you think of your loved one as the person they were. You can feel closer to them and maybe even discover new insight about their internal world.

Adopt A Small Bit Of Their Routine Into Your Own

Most people develop a routine as they go about their day-to-day life. For example, some people may read for at least an hour a day or take the time to garden for a certain amount of time every day or every other day.  We insert these daily activities into our lives because they bring us joy and better ourselves while reminding us of the people we love. What daily activity brought your loved one joy? Did they drink a cup of tea every morning? Slipping something as simple as that into your daily routine can help you feel closer to them.

Keep A Journal

Journaling has lots of therapeutic benefits. Many therapists already use journaling as a form of relief for many mental ailments, and that includes the processing of grief. Keeping a journal about your loved one may evoke many buried emotions. You may smile and laugh as you write about certain memories. Some memories may be more painful to write about, and you may shed tears. But the beauty of it is that you’re keeping their memory alive.

Make Or Order Their Favorite Dish

Ordering their favorite dish is great, but making it is a whole new experience. You could always order in if your loved one wasn’t much of a cook. But if they did cook often, why not give it a try? Ask around and see if you can find a personal recipe they kept. Not only will you be following the steps they took, but you will also experience the smells and tastes they loved.

Support During Grief

There are many ways to honor and feel close to someone after they pass away. These extra ways put you in your loved one’s shoes. You can do so much more than have one day to honor them. All you need to do is have an open mindset and a little creativity.