I’ve just seen a post by a LinkedIn connection of mine, a former Royal Marine and Police Officer, raising awareness of a 1,000 run and walk being done in memory of one of his friends who sadly passed from brain cancer last month.
When someone we knew and cared about passes, it’s almost instinctive for us to want to do something special in their memory. Perhaps raising awareness of a little known condition such as Batten disease or raising funds for the charity or hospice who cared for them in their final days.
I don’t think anything can truly prepare us for the loss of a loved one. It’s such an emotional time when we lose that friend or family member, it can almost feel surreal and you end up just going through the motions feeling numb.
Having a challenge to do in their memory is a lovely thing to do, allowing those who can, to come together for a good cause. However, once it has taken place, you may end up feeling that you have just lost them all over again; last week’s hike across Pen Y Fan takes its place in the past and you have nothing that remains as a reminder of what was done in their memory.
Up until the 1960s, most people didn’t move far away from where they were brought up, let alone emigrate to other parts of the world. It wasn’t too hard to visit a grave or meet up at someone’s house or local pub for a drink and reminisce on a particular anniversary.
Additionally these days, with people choosing to have their ashes scattered, we may not even have somewhere to leave flowers or some other token.
If you have lost someone, whether recently or in the past, and would like to have somewhere you can come to reflect, please add a post to our memory wall. It can be as short or as long as you want and will be your area to maintain as you see fit, somewhere others can also come and leave tributes and comments should you wish.
We hope this helps.
