I visited the Day of the Dead Celebration at my son's high school. Earlier this year one of the students passed away in a tragic accident. The students had placed an ofrenda for him. I was amazed how many of the students were using the ofrenda to remember their friend, and to grieve, including my son. His name is Luis.
Luis:
Was a loved student of the Lee Williams High School Community.
He liked riding bikes, hanging out with friends and family and liked hanging out watching movies with his older brother.
His favorite food was pasta, rice and beans.
He especially loved his dog.
Luis liked to swim and in his free time he liked to go shooting. And his favorite movies were the Michael Myers Halloween movies and favorite characters were the ninja turtles.
You'll be missed.
...Grieving individuals may find it helpful to use some of the following strategies to help them process and come to terms with loss:
- Talk about the death of your loved one with friends or colleagues in order to help you understand what happened and remember your friend or family member. Avoidance can lead to isolation and will disrupt the healing process with your support systems.
- Accept your feelings. You may experience a wide range of emotions from sadness, anger or even exhaustion. All of these feelings are normal and it’s important to recognize when you are feeling this way. If you feel stuck or overwhelmed by these emotions, it may be helpful to talk with a licensed psychologist or other mental health professional who can help you cope with your feelings and find ways to get back on track.
- Take care of yourself and your family. Eating healthy foods, exercising and getting plenty of sleep can help your physical and emotional health. The grieving process can take a toll on one’s body. Make sure you check in with your loved ones and that they are taking the necessary healthy steps to maintain their health.
- Reach out and help others dealing with the loss. Spending time with loved ones of the deceased can help everyone cope. Whether it’s sharing stories or listening to your loved one’s favorite music, these small efforts can make a big difference to some. Helping others has the added benefit of making you feel better as well.
- Remember and celebrate the lives of your loved ones. Anniversaries of a lost loved one can be a difficult time for friends and family, but it can also be a time for remembrance and honoring them. It may be that you decide to collect donations to a favorite charity of the deceased, passing on a family name to a baby or planting a garden in memory. What you choose is up to you, as long as it allows you to honor that unique relationship in a way that feels right to you.
The ofrenda especially covers the last aspect; remembering and celebrating the lives of your loved ones. I think the students have found a way to support each other, and remember their friend.
