There are many ways to honor and remember your Loved One as you continue to live. You can be as creative, spontaneous, private or ritualistic as you’d like.

Look around you and connect with what means the most to your Loved One or for you. Remembering can certainly happen at your Loved One’s final resting place or through attending memorial services that may be offered in the community, though the limits are amazingly endless.

My family is wonderful in their remembering through photographs, sharing stories and the passing on of meaningful items. My Mother-in-Law loved her candles. She thought that the fragrance of them would cover up the smell of cigarette smoke, which it did not. In her memory, we have a lovely overly fragrant candle we light on the anniversary of her death as well as when we decorate for Christmas. There is a ritual to the lighting of the candle. It’s very lovely and the familiar scent of her lingers in our home for a few days. It’s a classic yet fun way of remembering her.

I’ve heard stories of all sorts of ways of honoring and remembering. I’m sure you’ve seen plaques that state a bench, a park, or a room in a building was funded or donated in memory of a person. We even see highways recognized for first responders that may have died there. In certain gardens, bricks or trees can be purchased in memory or honor of your Loved One.

Charity walks and events are another way to actively remember and help bring awareness to a cause you find important. There are walks and events for specific illnesses, cancers, and social issues. These events can help many others that are in need.

Then, there are some quite challenging and extreme forms of honoring such as rappelling off buildings, polar bear plunges (going into ice cold waters), or complete your Loved One’s bucket list.

Sometimes remembering can be much more simple. We all have a specific way of connecting with our Loved Ones have be a nickname, a favorite sports team, a special animal, a color, a shape, or anything, really. You can carry these symbols along with you everyday or when you need a connection the most. I’ve heard of all sorts of symbols such as frogs, bunnies, butterflies, dragonflies, cardinals, the floating seeds of cottonwood trees, hearts, turtles, deer, specific colors, certain scents and even a specific car. Here are some simple ways of remembering that can be done any day:

• look at photos
• have a special flower in a vase to represent your loved one
• make a memory video or a photo scrapbook
• wear a piece of their clothing
• wear a locket, watch, ring of significance
• go to a special park that had meaning to your Loved One
• make a certain recipe or enjoy a favorite food
• look for a meaningful symbol in everyday life
• carry a special symbol with you or in your car
• smell scents that remind you of your Loved One
• random act of kindness in memory of your Loved One
• have your Loved One’s signature engraved on a bracelet or necklace

I cannot list all of the events or website. Here are some websites to get you started or to give you some ideas:

• Active.com Find Charitable Races and Events near you
• Over the Edge – Upcoming Events
• MISSfoundation.org – Random Acts of Kindness cards can be downloaded here
• Light the Night – Leukemia & Lymphoma Events
• Out of the Darkness Overnight Walks – Suicide Awareness and Prevention
• Susan G Koman 3-Day – Breast Cancer Awareness
• American Lung Association – Variety of events: Stair Climbs, Walks, Galas
• MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) – Various ways to support their cause
• Special Olympics – you can get involved in a number of ways
• VolunteerMatch.org – find volunteering opportunities in your area

Take a few minutes to reflect or journal:

How do you honor or carry the memory of your Loved One with you?