Continuing Activities

Lists of traditions – family activity

As we approach a time of year that can hold a lot of family traditions, it can be helpful to reflect on what feels good for your family to change or carry forward.

Sit down together and make a list of family traditions. Do you typically go on a vacation each summer? Do you bake cookies for Valentine’s Day every year? Are special activities planned when it is someone’s birthday?

As a family, determine which of these traditions you would like to continue since the death and which ones feel too painful to do without your special person there. If some are too painful, discuss which new traditions you would like to create as your family looks forward. For both new and old traditions, consider how or if you want to bring in ways of memorializing your special person.

What my healing looks like – youth activity ages 12 – 24

Healing looks different for every person. Take or find an image that represents what healing looks like for you or what you hope it will look like in the future. Write a few words about the inspiration for your photo.

Each person in the family will work independently on this task and then come together to share. There is no right or wrong way to do the project.

Wishing flags – youth activity ages 3 – 18

In Tibet, people use flags to encourage peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. People string the flags outside and believe that when the wind moves the flags it spreads goodness to the area. Cut fabric or paper into squares to make “flags”. On each flag, write or draw a hope or goal you have for the future that the wind can carry out into the world.

Discuss as a family the hopes and wishes each person has for their future. String the flags onto ribbon or twine and hang them somewhere meaningful in your home.

Story Corner

“Memory Jars” by Vera Brosgol