Valentine's Day Rituals to Awaken Memories

Valentine’s Day Rituals to Awaken Memories

Ponder the Vows you made to each other. Every “love” adventure steps into the great unknown . Your vows challenge you to work through life together. Celebrate the adversity you overcame as you weathered the storms of life. Be grateful for the milestones you accomplished together. As a Valentine’s Day ritual, acknowledge your journey—the trials and the triumphs!
Make a List of your Happiest Times Together. Review it every time sadness overwhelms you and threatens you into despair. Use the list to ignite the flame of love and connection. It’s a promise that heals and renews.
Retrieve that box of letters, notes or maybe even text messages you saved that made your heart sing because you knew he or she was “the one.” Let your heart swell with the same kind of attraction you felt then.
Create the Story of Your Life Book. Meant to be passed on, cherished and a record for posterity. Record the story of your life together in pictures, words, and stories, including the ups and downs. This is meant to be shared and read by your family, children, and grandchildren. Your name will not be just a name on the family tree. Instead, it becomes a written legacy of who you were, the life you lived, and what you want them to know about you. This Is Our Life Story. You’re Still the One

More Rituals

Write a Poem or Letter to your loved one and title it “If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose you!” Gary bought me a balloon for an anniversary with the words, “Your Still the One.” That feeling never changed. No regrets!
Borrow beloved characteristics of your loved one that bought you together in the first place. Another Valentine’s Day ritual: Decide which characteristics of your loved one you want to “borrow,” and “adopt” them for yourself. Practice them every day. Let them become a part of you.
Use Connecting Bonds to subtly remind you of heart and soul connections through objects, habits, rituals, and memories. Valentine’s Day rituals are healthy and healing.
Remember Others. Send a Valentine to F
friends who shared your experiences together. And don’t forget those special people who supported you in mourning.
Buy Yourself a Bouquet of Flowers and if it suits you, add a single red rose.

Read more by Nan on Open to Hope: Son’s Suicide Reorders Family’s Life – Open to Hope

Learn more about Nan’s work at Wings – A Grief Education Ministry

Nan Zastrow

“I always wanted to write,” said Nan Zastrow. “But I never dreamed it would be about death, grief, and mourning. Today I write to heal my pain and teach others that even after a life-changing event, there can be a reason and a purpose to go on living.” On April 16, 1993, Chad Zastrow, the son of Nan and Gary, died as the result of suicide. Ten weeks later, Chad’s fiancée took her life. This double tragedy inspired the Zastrows to create a ministry of hope. They formed a non-profit organization called ©Roots and Wings more commonly called Wings. From 1993—2003, they published the Wings™ magazine, a publication about real situations and real people going through grief that was mailed throughout the United States and Canada. In 2003, their non-profit changed its focus to primarily grief education and support. They publish a free, quarterly newsletter by email to subscribers. Nan and Gary, together, have been keynote speakers at National Bereaved Parents and workshop presenters at various other events. They have been grief group facilitators since 1993, and host workshops and seminars. Each year they host an original theme-based community “When the Holidays Hurt” program for area funeral homes. Nan is the author of four books and over sixty Editor’s Journal Articles in Wings, Grief Digest, and other publications. Their non-profit organization is the recipient of the 2000 Flame of Freedom Award for community volunteerism. Nan was also nominated for the Women of Vision Award in 2001; the Athena Award in 2005, and The HOPE of Wisconsin, hospice volunteer of the year in 2008. Nan and Gary are hospice volunteers and survivors of six sudden deaths of significant people in their lives.