thoughts of your loved one to arise without expectation. Sensory cues—smells, music, and even specific textures—can spontaneously evoke vivid memories, often when least expected.
SHARE THEIR STORY
Talking about your loved one with others can help reinforce and revive memories. In fact, narrative practices—storytelling, letter writing, or even creating a small memory book—have been shown to help. Sharing stories with others helps us consolidate memory. It’s not just about remembering for ourselves, but helping others know them too. We’ve found that often bereaved individuals felt that sharing stories with others significantly helped them feel connected to their loved one’s memory. It wasn’t about getting every detail right; it was about capturing the essence of who they were.
USE THE TOOLS AROUND YOU
If you find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to use tools to aid your memory. Voice recordings, written anecdotes, photos, and even social media posts can act as external memory holders. It’s okay to rely on reminders— and luckily we live in an age where we can capture and revisit memories more easily than ever before.
LET MEMORY BE WHAT IT IS
Ultimately, the work is not to perfectly preserve but to remain open. Memories may change shape, but their emotional truth can endure. Grief is not just about looking back. It’s also about continuing to love someone as they are now—in memory, in legacy, in how you live. It’s okay if some details soften with time. The love, the influence, the impact—they remain. And in the quiet, when you least expect it, you may find that a memory, once lost, floats gently back to you. ●
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