The Emotional Journey of Grief After Losing a Parent

Understanding Their Legacy

Your parent’s legacy is unique to your relationship with them. It may be found in the traditions they upheld, the values they lived by, or the impact they had on their community. Even if your relationship with them was complicated, their presence in your life likely influenced you in some way.

Consider asking yourself:

• What qualities or values did they demonstrate that I admire?

• What lessons—spoken or unspoken—did they teach me?

• How did they make a difference in my life or in the lives of others?

• Is there something about them that I want to carry forward?

Ways to Honor Their Legacy

There are many ways to keep your parent’s memory alive in a way that feels meaningful to you. Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Carry Forward Their Values and Traditions

Did your parent emphasize kindness, hard work, generosity, or perseverance? Living out their values can be a powerful way to honor them. If they had traditions—such as family gatherings, volunteer work, or cultural practices—continuing these can create a sense of connection.

2. Share Their Story

Talking about your parent and sharing stories about them with family, friends, or future generations keeps their memory alive. Writing a journal, recording memories, or even creating a digital tribute can help preserve their impact.

3. Engage in Acts of Service

If your parent cared deeply about a cause, you might choose to honor them by supporting something they believed in—volunteering, donating, or simply continuing work that was meaningful to them.

4. Create a Personal Tribute

A tribute can be anything that helps you feel connected to your parent’s memory. It could be:

• Planting a tree or garden in their honor.

• Keeping a special object that reminds you of them.

• Creating artwork, music, or writing that reflects your feelings or memories.

• Celebrating their birthday or another meaningful date in a way that feels right to you.

5. Live in a Way That Honors Their Influence

Your parent may have shaped you in ways you don’t even realize. Whether it’s through the way you treat others, the career path you’ve chosen, or the way you navigate challenges, their influence is likely woven into who you are. Acknowledging this can be a powerful way to keep their presence alive in your daily life.

Honoring a Parent with a Complicated Legacy

If your relationship with your parent was strained or unresolved, honoring their legacy might feel more complicated. You don’t have to ignore difficult emotions to find meaning in their life. Instead, you might choose to:

• Recognize any positive qualities they had, even if your relationship was difficult.

• Learn from their mistakes and consciously break unhealthy patterns.

• Find your own way to honor their memory—whether through forgiveness, personal growth, or simply acknowledging their role in your life.

• Participate in Wellness Waypoint’s Holding Space Community and Course Dedicated to Loss of a Complicated Relationship

Finding Meaning in Their Impact

Honoring a parent’s legacy isn’t about idealizing them or feeling obligated to carry on their traditions—it’s about finding a way to remember them that brings you peace. Whether you choose to actively celebrate their memory or simply reflect on their influence in your life, their impact continues through you.

By recognizing the ways they shaped you, embracing the lessons that matter to you, and finding personal ways to honor them, you can keep their legacy alive in a way that supports your healing and growth.