M I S S I N G:

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Remembering Someone Who is Missing:

When a loved one disappears, things change. However, having a close relationship with your loved one doesn’t have to end when they are missing. The list below has suggestions for 50 ways you can continue your relationship with your missing loved one.

1. Say your loved one’s name out loud and don’t be afraid to talk about him or her
2. Keep photos around
3. Write a letter
4. Turn your porch light on at night, until your missing loved one returns
5. Plan an event such as a candlelight vigil, memorial, or balloon release
6. Occasionally eat their favorite food
7. Imagine having a conversation with your missing loved one
8. Say prayers
9. Visit their favorite spot
10. Donate to your loved one’s favorite charity
11. Volunteer at your loved one’s favorite charity
12. Sometimes when a new building is being erected, you can personalize a brick with your loved one’s name
13. Share favorite memories with other family members, especially young children who may not remember the missing person well
14. Create and a memory box with a photo, favorite cologne/perfume, piece of clothing, favorite book, and other things that remind you of your loved one
15. Occasionally look through the memory box you’ve created for your missing loved one
16. Plant flowers or a garden
17. Make a tile or tile wall with your loved one’s name and put it in your garden
18. At holidays, birthdays, or other special occasions, give a momento to other family members such as a hat, a shirt, watch, earrings, or a framed photo
19. Keep a diary or journal
20. Paint a picture of your loved one
21. Call other family members or friends of the loved one on their birthday, holidays, or annual date of disappearance
22. Send flowers to another family member on special days
23. Create a new tradition or ritual such as lighting candles every day, week, or month
24. Fly a kite with a special message to your loved one attached
25. Listen to your loved one’s favorite song or album
26. Plant a tree and put ribbons on it with family and friend’s names and special messages
27. Play your missing loved one’s favorite board or video game
28. Create a scrapbook with photos, ticket stubs, poems, letters, and other special items
29. Dedicate a park bench to your missing loved one
30. Make a special ornament or decoration for the holidays with your loved one’s name
31. Draw a picture of your loved one
32. Have a celebration for your loved one and invite friends and family to talk about their favorite moments with the missing person
33. Name a star after your missing loved one, they may be looking up at it too
34. Sing a song
35. Write a poem
36. Send balloons to another family member on special days
37. Wear a missing loved one’s shirt, hat, or other piece of clothing
38. At holidays and other special occasions, leave an empty chair for the person
39. Make a quilt using scraps of your missing loved one’s blankets or clothing
40. Display a special box on your missing loved one’s birthday, annual date of disappearance, and holidays and have family and friends fill it with notes.
41. Play your missing loved one’s favorite sport
42. Wear a pin with a photo of your missing loved one
43. Read your missing loved one’s favorite book or story
44. Continue your missing loved one’s favorite tradition
45. Have a calendar made with photos of your missing loved one
46. Follow a rainbow to see if your missing loved one is on the other side
47. Wear clothing with your loved one’s favorite color
48. Donate your loved one’s favorite book to a library
49. Create a website dedicated to your missing loved one
50. Release a balloon with a special message to your missing loved one