Grief Rituals
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Fight To Create Change: Use your anger as a driving force to fight to change a law or create a new one making the world a safer place.

Volunteer: Many organizations rely on volunteers such as hospitals and hospice. It should be quite easy to find a volunteer position that is either in your field of interest or significant to your loved one or the type of loss experienced. When doing volunteer work we not only help others, but ourselves as well.

Help Feed The Hungry: Volunteer to help feed the hungry/homeless during the holiday season. There is nothing more rewarding than watching the expression on the people's faces as you serve them a hot meal on a holiday.

Donate To A Research Organization: Find an organization that is specific to your loss situation. For example: If your loved one died from cancer, participate in the Cancer Walk Of Life, or donate money directly for cancer research in their memory.

Support A Local Church Or Hospital: Purchase something for a local church or hospital in memory of your loved one.

Set Up A Memorial Fund: Many scholarships or awards are given in memory of someone. We have done one every year in memory of our son at the school that he attended in his field of interest.

Let Helium Balloons Go: Each summer The Compassionate Friends have a balloon launch. Individual messages are tied to the string and are watched as they rise as if heaven bound along with a prayer or special wish to a loved one. This could also be done from the grave site on significant dates, for example death date or birth date of a loved one.

Donate Symbolic Gifts In Loved One's Name: The year that my sister couldn't make it home from out of state for Christmas, she purchased symbolic gifts in memory of deceased loved ones. Both the gift and those that received them were symbolic of the loved one that they were given to in memory of. A heart felt letter was read at the family gathering as my sister told us of her purchases and the recipients.

Make A Doll From A Loved Ones's Clothing: There are many patterns available on the internet for simple to sew dolls, and you too can make one for easing the pain of losing a loved one. I shared a pattern of mine with a mom whose child was having a hard time coping with the death of her aunt. Mom made the doll out of the aunts shirt. The child took it everywhere with her.


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