Why do we wait for a loved one to pass before we honour them?
Let's celebrate their life and share memories in their presence.
Why do we wait for a loved one to pass before we honour them?
Let's celebrate their life and share memories in their presence.
A LEGACY IS ETCHED INTO THE MINDS OF OTHERS AND THE STORIES THEY SHARE ABOUT YOU. ~ S ADLER
I celebrated a milestone birthday some time ago and was fortunate to share the occasion with many friends and family. Yet, not everyone who mattered to me could be there. Like most people, I have lost loved ones, some far too early through sudden tragedy, others after long battles with illness and incurable disease.
Each loss was marked by a funeral or memorial service of some kind. And no matter how many of these you attend, the feelings are always the same. Loss, sadness, grief, and sometimes even guilt linger long after the service ends, every single time. There are moments of laughter as memories are shared, but more often than not, it is tears that are shed.
That led me to ask myself, what if we could change this ritual? Instead of waiting until someone has passed to celebrate their life, why not honour them and pay tribute while they are still here to experience it?
When time is short, a living tribute allows family and friends to come together, share stories, and express love, offering both the guest of honour and their loved ones a sense of connection and closure in those precious final moments.
And for those approaching a milestone birthday—70, 80, 90, or even a glorious 100—how profoundly uplifting it would be to be present, to celebrate them fully, and to let them hear just how much they are cherished.
