There is no pain greater than loss. When someone you care for deeply has passed away, it can leave behind a hole in your life that seems impossible to fill. As time passes and the emotional wound begins to heal, you may find yourself looking for ways to honor the deceased. For many, simply visiting the final resting place of the individual is not enough. You may feel like you want to do something larger, something that will truly do justice to the life this person lived.
Finding a fitting way to remember those who have passed away can be tricky. To discover the best choice, it is helpful to look over all your options. Check out these suggestions and uncover a perfect method to honor your loved ones.
Memorialize
The most common way people honor deceased loved ones is through memorials. Though a gravestone or similar object helps to mark the final resting spot of the fallen, they are often found in specific spots like cemeteries. You might want to have a memorial for your loved one in a more centralized location. A graveyard can often feel like a place of death and serenity, which might not align with the memory you have of the deceased. Luckily, there are several ways to memorialize your loved ones in less somber locations.
Local parks and public buildings often have fundraisers where members of the community can purchase bricks, benches, or other items to be engraved with messages and placed in public locations. While you are typically able to write whatever you’d like on these items, many people opt to use the messages to honor the departed. Whenever you walk through the park in your town and sit upon a bench for a moment’s rest, you will be reminded of your loved one. This is one idea to consider, though there are many ways to remember the dead.
Home Comforts
Honoring those who have passed away does not always have to be a public display. Though creating a public memorial might be commonplace for those who are in mourning, you might find you need something more personal. Death can be hard to cope with because it takes more than a person away, it also takes a connection. When someone has died, you are left as the sole bearer of the memories you shared with this person. To properly honor this aspect of the relationship, there are several ways to show respect to the deceased at home.
Creating a small altar or memorial for your loved one in your house might be the right fit. It does not have to be anything showy. A picture of the departed, a candle, and some personal trinkets can be enough. Make a practice of sitting down, lighting the candle, and reflecting upon the memories you have of this person. Not only can this practice provide comfort, it might also help you with moving on with your life.
Tell the Story
Those who have died are no longer able to share their stories with the world. If you are looking for a way to honor someone close to you, then you might want to tell the story yourself. Talking about the deceased can be a wonderful way to show proper respect. Tell inspiring tales, silly anecdotes, or wild party stories, whatever helps you to feel connected to your lost loved ones through remembering their words and actions.
Though the death of a loved one might take something very special away from you, it does not take everything. The memories that linger with you, the words and items left behind, these are what you must cherish when you are honoring the departed. Finding the right way to show respect to those who have passed can help the wound to heal and allow you to move forward with your life.
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