Cybill Vargas | October 12, 2026

When someone we love dies, we are left with memories, feelings, and the reality of learning to live without that person. Although we cannot bring them back, I believe there are meaningful ways to honor them and keep their influence alive in our lives.

One way to honor someone is by doing things in their memory. It does not have to be something big or expensive. It might mean helping someone who is struggling, showing kindness to a stranger, supporting a cause that was important to the person, or continuing a tradition that reminds us of them.

I especially appreciate the idea that we can honor someone through the things we do for others. A simple act of kindness, even one that no one else knows about, can be a meaningful way to remember someone we love. In this way, something good can come from our loss, not because the loss itself is good, but because we honor the person, bringing them into the space.

Everyone finds their own way to remember someone. Some people talk about their loved one, look through photographs, give to another person in the name or their loved one or even celebrate special occasions in their memory. Others may find comfort in quietly doing something that reminds them of the person. There is no single right way to honor someone, just as there is no single way to grieve.

Grief changes our lives, and we may carry that loss with us forever. But remembering someone does not have to mean focusing only on their absence. We can also recognize what they meant to us and allow their memory to inspire the way we treat others and live our lives.

We cannot change the fact that someone we love is gone. But we can choose how we carry their memory forward.

A thought to reflect on: What is one small thing you could do to honor someone you love who is no longer here?