Losing someone you love feels heartbreaking. In addition to navigating a mix of overwhelming emotions, you may feel compelled to commemorate their life in some small or large way.
While a funeral can provide closure, you may want to perform an act that celebrates their life and impact. If this is the case, here are some beautiful ways to honor a loved one’s life after their passing.
Plant Trees in Memory of a Loved One
Planting a tree in a loved one’s memory is one of the most beautiful ways to honor their life and legacy. It’s a powerful tribute, as their loss will lead to new life on the planet, continuing their influence on the world after passing away.
A Living Tribute plant trees in your loved one’s honor or memory in a beautiful U.S. national forest or park in desperate need of life. It allows the person you love to continue to have an impact, as the trees provide a vital wildlife habitat, create clean drinking water, and help prevent deforestation.
Support a Worthy Charitable Cause
In addition to planting a tree, you also have the option to support a worthy charitable cause that meant a great deal to your loved one or is connected to their health condition. For example, you could make a recurring donation to help a charity fund vital projects or life-changing research. Alternatively, you could volunteer your time to help others with the same condition as your loved one, supporting families like yours.
Follow the Empty Chair Tradition
Many families like to acknowledge their loved one’s spirit with an empty chair on special occasions. For example, a couple may choose to place a photograph of a lost loved one on a reserved, empty chair at their wedding. Also, some families add an extra chair to the dinner table on Christmas Day to acknowledge their absence and presence in spirit. While this may undoubtedly trigger a variety of emotions, it will highlight that they’re always with you, even when they can’t be by your side.
Create a Memory Jar
If you will soon host a wake or memorial for a loved one, consider creating a memory jar. Ask their family and friends to write down a favorite memory or a little-known story about the person you love, which the family can read later. All you need is an empty jar, some pens, and paper.
It will prove how loved they are by the people closest to them while allowing you to gain a deeper insight into their life and personality. Also, whenever you want to think of them, you can pull out the jar to read the funny and heartfelt memories from their relatives and close friends. Don’t forget to add your own memories, too.
Managing the loss of a loved one can feel like a long road. However, finding ways to celebrate their life and personality could bring you and your family a great deal of comfort, making the journey feel a little easier.
Process oriented, self-motivated, and self-directed experienced writer with strong background in leading, process improvement, testing, and requirements definition in the areas of healthcare revenue cycle, order processing, and just-in-time systems. Recognized for organizational skills, human relations skills, and analytical skills.
