When a family member passes away, DO NOT

Losing someone you love leaves the world muted, as if every sound, every color, carries a faint echo of what’s missing. In that silence, we reach for what remains — a watch, a pillow, a bottle of perfume — anything that keeps the memory alive. But sometimes, those keepsakes do more than comfort us. They tether us to pain, anchoring our hearts in the past when life is quietly asking us to move forward. Understanding which objects heal and which ones haunt can be the first step toward peace.

Stopped Clocks: When Time Refuses to Move

A watch frozen at the moment of death can feel sacred — a symbol of love suspended in eternity. Yet, emotionally, it may also mirror a life standing still. Psychologists note that such symbols of halted time can reinforce our inability to reenter the flow of life. Their quiet stillness radiates through a room, creating an atmosphere heavy with sorrow. If that frozen watch brings peace, cherish it. But if it whispers of loss each time you see it, thank it for its service, then let it go. Restarting its hands can be an act of renewal — a signal that it’s time to let your own heart tick again.

Medical Supplies: The Echo of Illness

Empty pill bottles, blood pressure cuffs, oxygen tubes — these remnants of care carry powerful energy. Even stored away, they retell stories of frailty, sleepless nights, and whispered fears. Keeping them often stems from love, but they keep us anchored in the hardest chapters. Releasing them safely — through a pharmacy or donation center — is not just cleaning; it’s emotional cleansing. The space left behind becomes room for healing, for laughter to return where grief once lingered.

Clothing and Bedding: Comfort or Chains?

That favorite shirt, her perfume still clinging to the fabric; his pillow, still dented by where his head once lay. These items hold intimacy — but also sorrow. Many traditions believe that fabric absorbs the energy of those who wear it, carrying part of their essence. Holding on can feel like love, yet it can also become a cycle of pain. The kindest act is to choose what truly soothes you — one or two cherished pieces — and release the rest with gratitude. It’s not betrayal; it’s permission for your heart to breathe again.

Biological Keepsakes: When Love Clings Too Tightly

Locks of hair, teeth, or anything bearing a loved one’s scent are tender relics, born from deep affection. But these fragments tie us to the physical, not the spiritual. Healing requires turning our gaze from what’s gone to what endures — the love, the lessons, the light. If you struggle to let go, create a quiet ritual. Light a candle, whisper your thanks, and release it gently. In that act, you’re not saying goodbye — you’re saying, I’ll carry you differently now. Grief never truly leaves us. It softens, reshapes, and finds new places to live within us. Letting go of certain keepsakes doesn’t erase memory; it makes space for new life to bloom around it — proof that love, even when released, never really ends.