No one wants to think about losing a loved one, whether they’ve lived a long and healthy life or if their life was tragically cut short. The loss of someone you loved and cared deeply for is always incredibly difficult to manage and process. It’s not something that can necessarily be overcome either. It often takes time to grieve and then live with the loss you experienced.

There are, however, many ways in which you could look to honor the memory of a loved one when you find yourself needing a place to go or an activity to do that will help remember them each year.

With that being said, here are some heartwarming traditions to honor the memory of a loved one this year and every year going forward.

Donate to a charity

With many deaths that happen around the world, it’s often something that can be associated with a charity, even if the charity in question wasn’t something that was actively used or relied upon by you or your loved one at the time.

Donations to charities are incredibly important and are a great way to give back to those who are in need. A lot of charities don’t have the same spotlight and advertising opportunities that some of the bigger charities do and so therefore rely heavily on the help of small donations here and there.

It could be that you pick a charity that has the most meaning or association and use this as a charity to donate to every time you do something in your loved one’s name. You also don’t need to run a race to donate to charity, you could simply set up a direct debit to donate a small or large amount every year.

Create a memory board

If you’re someone who wants something more visual, a good option would be to introduce something like a memory board to your home. This could be up in your bedroom or perhaps the bedroom of the person you lost.

You could have a memory board in the hallway, your study, or if you wanted to, a room or space that’s specifically dedicated to honoring your loved one. Some people like to create a shine for their loved ones and photos often decorate this space.

With a memory board, you might have more than just a couple of photos. You may have memories from special occasions whether that’s a wristband or a small object that reminds you of them. These little mementos can contribute towards this memory board which will ensure you remember them forever and always.

You could also explore Memorials.com for options when it comes to their funeral and ensuring

Light a candle 

A candle is a symbolism of light, a light that your loved one brought to this earth and that still remains even after they’re gone. 

Many people tend to light a candle when remembering their loved ones and it’s commonly used within religion as a symbolic gesture. You can choose to light a candle daily or merely on special occasions. You may find that a small candle is all you need or you might want to personalize the candle so that it holds more significance.

Consider volunteering for a cause

Like donating to a charity, some might want to do more in order to give back to causes that perhaps played a big part in the treatment or care of your loved one while they were alive.

Volunteering opportunities are a great way to work with these causes and there are plenty of volunteering jobs going. Whether it’s something you do here and there, or you commit to on a regular basis, volunteering is always something that’s needed and is therefore something to consider.

A few examples could be a food shelter, a nursing home, or working individually with others that might need specific care and support.

Create an event to celebrate their legacy

Celebrating their legacy is an important part of setting up those traditions. Creating an event to celebrate their legacy might be something you do every year for their birthday, once a year that’s significant, or every so often that brings people together who loved and were touched by them,

Creating such events is a great way to bring their memory back alive for those who might have let it slip to the back of their mind in recent years.

Listen to their favorite music or watch a movie

When a loved one is alive, they’re going to have a lot of favorites, whether that’s music or watching a movie. That’s why it’s a good idea to put this music on your playlist so that every often, it comes on when you least expect it.

If you’re a movie buff, then there are likely movies that your loved one watched and raved about and therefore, would be something that you could watch every so often to remember them. Movies are often shared experiences too, so chances are you watched this movie with them at some point.

Look back on old videos or photographs

Old videos or photographs are a great way to look back on their memories and the legacy they left behind. From video footage in the form of home movies to photographs taken throughout their lifetime.

Looking back on old videos or photographs is a great way to remember your loved ones and they’re easy enough to pick up to look at or watch. You can also go frames that you can load videos onto if you want something to see every time you walk into a room.

There are many heartwarming traditions to honor the memory of a loved one, especially with these few picks to get you started. With that being said, make use of these heartwarming traditions, and don’t be afraid to select your own too. There’s a lot of ways that you can remember your loved ones this year and every year going forward when they’re no longer here.