Grief has a way of shaking everything up, it’s heavy, confusing, and often leaves you desperate for a way to feel close to the person you’ve lost. It doesn’t matter if you’re close to home or a digital nomad in another country, but grief has no limits when it comes to distance. Sometimes, even something as beneficial as meditation just can’t do the trick like it usually does for hard patches. And sometimes, the answer isn’t sitting still. It’s getting up, packing a bag, and heading somewhere meaningful.
It’s not really unheard of, but at the same time, this form of “medicine” for grief isn’t widely used. Most people stick with time (understandably so). But it’s so important to understand that you’re not running away from your feelings if you choose to go this route. Actually, movies like Disney’s Up and Wild are two great examples that show that sometimes, travel is the best piece of closure you can this.
In Up, Carl honors his late wife by traveling to Paradise Falls, a place they dreamed of visiting together. In Wild, Cheryl hikes 1,200 miles to process her mother’s death. These stories remind us that travel can be a powerful way to deal with grief. But more than that, it can bring you closer to your loved one, even if they’re no longer physically here.
Travel becomes a way to say, “I remember you. I carry you with me.” So, how do you turn a trip into a heartfelt tribute? Well, it’s time to explore that.
Main Topics of How Travel Can Bring You Closer to a Loved One After They’re Gone
Visit the Places They Loved
Every person has places that make their heart sing. Maybe it was a quiet cabin in the mountains, a sunny beach where they could finally relax, or a bustling city that brought out their adventurous side. So, what place did they absolutely love?
Walk in Their Favorite Places
Being somewhere that mattered to them can feel like stepping into a memory. Maybe it’s sitting in the same café where they always ordered a latte or hiking that trail they talked about for years. Well, those places hold pieces of them, and experiencing them firsthand can feel like they’re right there with you.
Live Out Their Travel Dreams
What about the places they dreamed of visiting but never got to see? While they may no longer be around to see it, why not see what they wanted to see in memory of them? It’s like fulfilling their bucket list for them, keeping their sense of wonder alive in the process.
Stand Where They Once Stood
If you have old photos of them at landmarks or special locations, take a moment to recreate those shots. This is usually the pretty common thing that a lot of kids love doing when it comes to their parent’s or grandparents’ photos. So, just stand where they stood, mimic their pose, and snap a picture. The idea is cute, right?
So, just imagine how they felt in that moment, excited, joyful, at peace. It’s a small but powerful way to connect with their experiences and weave their past into your present.
Turn the Trip Into a Personal Memorial
Sometimes, travel can be about more than just visiting a place, it can be about creating something meaningful in their memory. So, this is actually something that a lot of people (most families) will opt into doing anyway, so you could consider this one yourself too (with or without other loved ones).
Scatter Ashes in a Meaningful Spot
For some, scattering a loved one’s ashes in a location they adored is an incredibly personal way to say goodbye. Just think about where they’d feel most at home, by the ocean (just be cautious of the wind), on a mountaintop, or even in a peaceful forest. You could even use a bit of the ashes left to have cremation keepsake jewelry used from Memorials.com and wear it while traveling.
But when it comes to scattering ashes, just be respectful of where you’re scattering them, as areas like Disneyland (which seems to be popular) are very respectful. Just trying to keep it around Mother Nature (so it gives back to nature).
Plant a Living Memorial
Speaking of nature, another touching idea is planting something in their honor, usually, it’s a tree. Depending on what service you use, you might have the option of visiting the tree, like a memorial forest. The trees are similar to a gravestone, where there’s a plaque and info about the deceased loved one, and you’re given the longitude and latitude of the tree.
While cemeteries can be eerie, going to a memorial forest is going to feel a lot more peaceful (and they’re not super common so there is usually traveling involved depending on where you live.
Trace Their Roots
If your loved one is proud of their heritage, traveling to explore their roots can be a meaningful way to honor them. Plus, it can even get you close to your roots if they’re family.
Dive Into Their Family History
Visit their hometown or ancestral homeland. Maybe do something like walk the streets they once roamed or visit the places they told stories about. But overall, just seeing where they came from can give you a deeper understanding of who they were, and maybe even a little insight into yourself.
Connect Through Culture and Spirituality
For some, their identity was tied to their faith or culture. So for a lot of people who are looking for closure, they’ll look into visiting places tied to those traditions, such as a pilgrimage site, a historic temple, or a local festival, and these can feel like stepping into their shoes and experiencing a piece of their world.
Just Preserve the Journey as a Tribute
Sometimes, the journey itself becomes the tribute. Now, this might sound generic, but capturing it allows you to reflect on it again and again.
Keep a Travel Journal or Scrapbook
Again, it might be generic, but write down your thoughts, snap photos, and collect keepsakes like ticket stubs or pressed flowers. But overall, these small details can help you preserve the journey, and the memories you create along the way.
Why not consider this? There are going to be people out there that entirely get it. So, just talking about your experience can inspire others to find their own ways to honor loved ones. Even writing a blog post could be something you could consider.
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