Dealing with the death of a loved one can be one of the toughest situations in a person’s life. Death is a mysterious inevitability of life. Some people are taken from this world at too young an age, others may be prepared for the end of life, but no one is truly ready to deal with the grief caused by death. Those left behind after the death of a loved one may be shocked by how painful and hard dealing with a loss may be. Finding ways to deal with this grief may allow for some relief after a passing.

The most important aspect of dealing with a loss is finding time to grieve. Between dealing with funeral and burial arrangements, taking care of others who are equally as distraught, and dealing with the concerns and well-meant inquiries by friends and neighbors, it is easy to put your own grief on hold, trying to maintain a smile for everyone else. However, grieving is an essential part of moving on after a loss. It is ok to be really sad, to miss the person, and to think about how life will be different without them. Allow yourself some all-out, irrational, hysterical crying. So many people try and hold it together and stay calm and rational for everyone else that they forget to take care of themselves. Mourning is important to everyone affected by a loss.

Once you have gotten one or two really good crying jags out of the way, it is important to remember and share memories about the deceased. One of the ways to move beyond the grief of a loss is to honor the memory of your loved one. Getting together with relatives and friends of the passed and sharing funny and happy memories helps everyone feel that there is a shared affinity and respect for their memory. Remembering can be a powerful tool in moving past grief into healing.

Many people, after the immediate shock and grief has worn off, carry on the healing process by continuing the legacy of the departed. It may be through charitable work, the formation of a foundation or scholarship, or a donation in the person’s honor. Finding ways to honor and expand the legacy of a loved one can help make their survivors feel there has been a positive experience gained from a negative.

Dealing with death is never easy. Not only do we miss the departed, we are also forced to evaluate the meaning and accomplishments of our own lives. It can be hard to move on from a loss but not impossible. Unfortunately, the old cliché holds true that time heals all wounds. When it comes to death, it may take more time but, eventually, life will go back to normal. Although you will never stop missing the person who has passed on, the sting of their loss will begin to subside and it won’t hurt so badly.