This Monday is Memorial Day in the US. Though it is officially a holiday to honor the men and women who have died during military service, it is also an occasion to remember any of your loved ones who are no longer with you. Whether you are grieving a friend or family member who passed away years ago or very recently, it is often therapeutic to keep a record of your memories of that person.
Find a quiet place for reflective journaling where you can write without interruptions. Use one of these Memorial Day journaling prompts to spark your memory.
1. Replay
Close your eyes and try to visualize a happy time you spent with your loved one. Imagine you are watching a home movie and can see the event from start to finish. Where are you? What are you doing? Who is there? What do you feel, hear, see or smell? How does this story illustrate the relationship you had with your friend? Open your eyes and retell the story in the present tense. Focus on why you are happy and what about this occasion is so special.
2. The Little Things
When you lose someone, it is often all the little details and characteristics of that person that you miss the most. Make a list of the personality traits, mannerisms, talents and idiosyncrasies that you most appreciate about your loved one. Remember the animated way he had of telling a story or his gift for making a delicious meal out of the odds and ends in the refrigerator. Recall her obsession with children’s literature or her effortless way of making friends with anyone she met. Write down everything you can think of that sums up who he or she was.
3. Reminders
A favorite song on the radio, the smell of a certain kind of lotion, the sight of a vintage sports car – reminders of your friend can pop up anytime. This part of grieving can be painful, especially in the early days, but the small flashes of remembrance can also be a comfort. Write a list of these reminders and how they keep your loved one’s memory alive.
Do you use reflective journaling as a way to cope with grief? Add your thoughts in the comments.
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