In the whirlwind of grief, it can be tempting to tidy everything away, to throw everything away. But these notes are often the most intimate testaments to how they loved us, encouraged us, or simply thought of us. Slip them into a keepsake box, even if you’re not ready to reread them right away.

Their voice: a heartwarming memory
With our cell phones, we now have the ability to preserve voice recordings just like we keep photos. A simple “Call me back when you can” or “Lots of love” can, over time, become a memory of great emotional value.

These recordings contain much more than a message: there’s their intonation, their laughter, their breathing… so many details that bring their presence back to life. So, before reflexively deleting a voicemail, save it somewhere, even if you don’t listen to it often.

Everyday objects that bore their imprint

A chipped mug, still used for their morning coffee; a scarf that still carries their scent; an old watch that no longer works but that they wore every day… These objects have the power to instantly evoke a specific memory.