Honoring Our Life Honors the Life of Our Loved One
Honoring Our Life Honors the Life of Our Loved Ones
Losing anyone is an indescribable pain, a void that often feels impossible to fill. For me, losing Ari has been one of my life’s greatest challenges. Yet, through my grief and loss, I have learned so much. One of those lessons, although it can feel near impossible at times, is to honor our loved one's memory: by truly living our life to its fullest.
This isn’t about forgetting our person or the loss, but about making room for honoring and celebrating the love and joy they brought into our life. We can do this in a number of ways, and it will look differently for everybody, but I have found that by nurturing our own wellness, and going all in, has helped this life with grief mean so much more.
Embrace Nurturing Your Overall Wellness
Grief takes its toll on the heart, mind, body, and soul. It's crucial to prioritize your wellness as you grieve, focusing on nourishing all aspects of yourself—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. What does or can this look like for you?
Physical Health: Engage in regular physical activity that you enjoy. Whether it's a daily walk, yoga, or a more intense workout, moving your body can help alleviate stress and improve your mood. Find a form of physical activity that you enjoy doing and make it a regular part of your routine. Whether it's a walk, calming yoga or stretch session, fun dance class, or kickboxing, moving your body can work wonders for your stress levels and overall happiness.
Mental Health: Seek support through therapy, counseling, coaching, or support groups. Expressing your emotions and sharing your story can be incredibly healing and can help you find your grief voice, growing your confidence in understanding what helps you and what doesn’t.
Being intentional and slowing down to be more mindful, using practices like meditation or journaling, can also provide some healing as you process your feelings. These practices can also help you get to a place where you can allow more peace, ease, and healing.
Nutrition: Nourish and fuel your body with healthy, whole foods to help boosts your physical health, and also your emotional resilience. Perhaps you can find a bit of joy in cooking meals that reminds you of your loved one or a meal you think they would have enjoyed that also brings you comfort, turning nourishment into an act of remembrance or memory-making.
Be intentional with what goes in your body for meals, snacks, and beverages. Opting for healthier, easier-to-digest foods can help conserve energy that would otherwise be spent on digesting heavier, or overly processed options. This can provide you with more energy for processing your emotions and coping with your loss, as well as have the stamina to stay active, engage in community activities, and manage your daily responsibilities and tasks.
Go All In
Honoring your loved one’s memory can mean embracing life with the kind of fearless enthusiasm they might have shown. Taking risks and living boldly doesn’t mean being reckless; it means stepping out of your comfort zone and pursuing passions and dreams that you might have set aside.
Experience Adventures: Whether it's skydiving, learning a new skill, or simply trying a new hobby, adventures add color to life. Every new experience is a testament to the vibrancy and curiosity that life continues to offer… yes, even after loss. But you must seek it out, focus on it, and choose it.
Pursue Your Dreams: What dreams have you let go of or put off to the side? Pursue them. Go after them. Make daily, consistent choices that are in alignment with your goals and dreams. Every step, no matter how small, is a stepping stone to create the environment to achieve your aspirations, a life full of possibility.
Enroll in that online course
Start that small business
Travel to that place you’ve always wanted to see
Do that exercise program regularly
Eat that nutritious food
Get that nap in
Learn that new skill
Read that book
Engage in that community opportunity (such as our Annual Bereaved Mothers Conference & Brunch - BRAVEher 2025 (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!)
Connect with that friend
Set that boundary
Embrace each moment and pursue your dreams with courage and determination, always leading with love. Living out your life and pursuing your dreams can be a powerful way to honor the dreams you had for your loved one.
Love Fiercely and Boldly
In the face of loss, love can sometimes feel like a risk. But loving fiercely and boldly is perhaps the most beautiful tribute you can pay to your loved one and honor their memory.
Cherish Relationships: Deepen your connections with family and friends. Don’t allow grief and the misunderstood moments and lack of knowledge of how others can help you create a wedge in your relationships. Let it be an opportunity to have the necessary, uncomfortable, and often difficult conversations.
Let those you love truly know how much they mean to you. Love in a way that leaves no room for regret, reflecting the unconditional love you have for your person no longer here.
Partake in Random Acts of Kindness: Spread kindness in your loved one’s name. Volunteer, help a neighbor, or simply offer a listening ear to someone who may be experiencing a similar kind of loss. These acts of love create ripples of impact, of positivity, and can be a means to keep your loved one’s spirit alive in our world that could use so much love right now.
Be BRAVE
Living boldly after a loss takes immense courage. It’s about finding the strength to move forward, to grow, and to thrive despite the immense pain. It does not in any way mean you are forgetting or being disloyal to your person.
Face Your Fears: Identify the fears that hold you back and tackle them one by one. Each small victory over fear is a step towards a fuller life.
Speak Truth: Share your story and your child’s story. Being open about your grief and your journey can inspire others and foster a community of support and understanding.
Celebrate Life: Find joy in the little things. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones with the same enthusiasm you would have if your child were with you. These celebrations can be a beautiful way to keep their memory vibrant and alive.
By honoring your own life, you honor the life of your loved one.
By taking care of yourself and your well-being, living boldly, and loving fiercely, you embody the most beautiful kind of BRAVE I know. You create a legacy of strength and love that is a true tribute to the memory and life of your loved one.
Every step you take towards living a full and healthy life by honoring what helps you grieve, heal, and live honors your loved one and their life.
