But if you still have one — even just a short message saying, “Hey, call me back,” or “I’m on my way” — back it up and store it somewhere safe.
Their voice, their rhythm, their way of saying your name — all of it lives in that recording.
In moments when the world feels quiet and too big, hearing it again can bring a kind of peace that nothing else can.
Keep it on your phone. On a flash drive. In an email to yourself. Just don’t let it disappear.
3. The Little Things That Were Always “Theirs”
You know the ones.
The chipped mug they used every morning. The chair they claimed as their own. The soft cardigan with worn sleeves. Their reading glasses left on the end table. A pen, a comb, a favorite spoon.
None of these things are valuable by store standards.
But they were theirs — a part of their daily routine, the rhythm of their presence.
Clearing out a home can be healing, but before you give everything away, pause. Keep one or two of these simple objects. You might be surprised how often you reach for them later, just to feel close.
And don’t be afraid to pass them down. These little items often become the most cherished family heirlooms.
4. Old Family Photos — Even the Ones With “Unfamiliar Faces”
In every house, there’s a box of old photographs that no one quite knows what to do with.
Faces without names. Blurry backgrounds. Aunts, cousins, neighbors from long ago.
And too often, people throw them out thinking, “We don’t even know who these people are.”
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