How do people remember those who passed? This isn’t the first time I have asked this question. I know someone who marks the date with a family dinner. Others visit the gravesite.
My mother’s passing came without anything done. No communication with relatives, no action on my part, and no remarks.
However, I woke up today, the day after, and remembered. “Did my mother pass away on the 9th or 19th?” I had to locate the funeral bulletin to be sure.
Thinking about her passing the day after the date made me wonder. Is this what happens to people after a certain amount of time? Perhaps it is that way when it is about someone who is older. I doubt it happens when it is a young person. My mother was 89 years old and lived a full life. Her obituary is proof.
However, I still felt a sense of regret that I didn’t do anything on the actual day.
The question, though, is this: does it matter? Does it matter that I didn’t communicate with my brother about this date when we often mention her in communication?
My action step is to create another list of ways to remember her, regardless of the date. Time to get started!
- Send a care package to her granddaughter who lives in another state
- Eat a Dove chocolate or share some with another person
- Take a picture of her great grandchildren by the tulip tree we planted in her honor
- Donate money to a charity. This is easy because my son is trying to raise money for children’s cancer research.
- Have a picnic
- Put out flags for September 11
- Attend a concert
- Listen to ABBA music
- Listen to John Denver music
- Remind my brother of the date
Achieving the items on this list will help me remember my mother in a positive way on any date. Actionable steps make a difference!
A Journey Worth Remembering 