Travel is not just a means to see the world, to explore new horizons, and to enrich ourselves. It can also be a journey of self-discovery, of healing, and of coping with changes in life, such as the loss of a loved one. Whether it was a final promise you made to a loved one or you recently said goodbye to someone who was a frequent travel companion of yours, traveling in their name and memory can be a great way to help process loss and to remember them. Here are a few tips on how to make it truly special.
Travel To Places With Meaning
If your loved one had places that meant something special to them, then going there in their stead on a solo travel trip can be a great way to begin to emotionally heal. These can be spots that you have been with them before, a place you dreamed of visiting with them, or places important to their past, such as their childhood homes. Walking these same paths allows memories to come to the surface gently, which can help transform the sorrow you feel into a sense of gratitude and connection with them, even when they’re no longer here. Bring a small token, such as a photo or a trinket that represents them, with you on your travels can provide some comfort, as well, and a focal point for prayer or meditation.
Helping Them Reach Their Last Destination
Your journey can become an opportunity to say farewell to a loved one, as well. If your loved one wanted to be returned to somewhere they care about, for instance, rather than to be buried beneath the earth, then finding glass urns to carry their ashes with you can allow you to help them on their last journey. Whether it’s in a favorite park, in a secluded woods, or otherwise, scattering their ashes can be a symbolic way of letting go, while ensuring that you’re carrying out what their final wishes may have been.
Writing As You Travel
Writing can be a great companion for any traveler, allowing them to journal their experiences, emotions, and thoughts, and making sure that they’re not easily forgotten. However, when you have lost a loved one, this writing can take on a different purpose. For instance, you can write as if addressing letters to your loved one, describing to them rather than just to yourself. It can help you feel their presence still with you even when they are not physically there, and can deepen the bond you have with them. These letters and journal entries can become your own map of healing as well, allowing the pain to slowly transition into peace and acceptance. It can become another lasting memorial, to be kept and treasured after the fact.
Rather than secluding yourself at home, getting out into the world and keeping your loved one close to your mind and heart can allow you to turn your grief into a celebration of their life. Hopefully, the tips above help you do that.
*Post contributed by peer wordsmith and traveler Trina Hafeman.*
