There’s a time each year, as the air turns cool and the days get shorter, when I find myself thinking about the people who have gone before me — the ones who shaped me, loved me, taught me, and left their mark.
Maybe it’s the season itself, or maybe it’s just where I am in life, but this year I found myself reflecting on something beautiful — the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos.
It’s celebrated on November 1st and 2nd in Mexico and parts of Central and South America, with roots in both ancient Aztec and Spanish traditions.
It’s not a day focused on mourning. It’s a celebration — of love, of life, and of those who have passed.
People build altars filled with marigolds, candles, food, and favourite items of their loved ones. There’s music, dance, laughter, and community. It’s a reminder that even though someone is no longer physically here, their presence continues to matter.
And that’s such a powerful shift in how we think about loss.
Remembering with Joy
We often lose touch with the stories of our own family lines. We might remember our parents, maybe our grandparents, but beyond that, the memories fade — their humour, their ways of doing things, the small details that made them who they were.
The Day of the Dead offers another way. It says: remember them by celebrating them.
For me, that often happens over a cup of tea. Every morning, my husband and I visit over tea that he has made for me. It brings back the mornings I shared tea with my mother, and the many times I watched my grandmother pour hers just right. It’s such a small thing, but it connects me to them both.
Dad 1955
Mom 1955
And of course, family isn’t only the people we’re born to.
There are others who raise us, guide us, and support us — the people we’ve chosen along the way who also deserve to be remembered.
The Stories That Stay
When we’re raising children, life moves fast. Between work, school, activities, and everything else, the days blur together.
What I’ve come to realize is that the most meaningful memories often come from the ordinary moments — the small, everyday interactions that show who someone really is.
I was lucky to live in the same community as my parents once I married. My children saw their grandparents often — not just for holidays or birthdays, but during the regular rhythm of daily life. Those moments stayed with them.
One of my sons once mimicked my mother’s expressions and her little British sayings. It made me laugh, because I could see how naturally those traits had carried forward. They didn’t come from big gestures — they came from time spent together.
That’s what I think The Day of the Dead teaches us: that the people we’ve loved are still part of us. They show up in what we say, in what we do, in how we live.
Grandad & Nanny Maternal Grandparents
Simple Ways to Remember
Honouring someone doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need an altar filled with marigolds (though that would be beautiful). You can create your own simple rituals:
Set a place at the table during the holidays.
Cook a meal they loved.
Tell a story that makes you smile.
Light a candle and say their name.
Grief doesn’t disappear, but it does change over time.
When we choose to remember with love — not just pain — we bring healing and peace to ourselves and to those around us.
The Light That Remains
As we move through this time of year, I encourage you to honour the people who helped shape your life — those who gave you love, guidance, and lessons that still matter.
Do it with laughter, with gratitude, and with the understanding that their light continues through you — in how you live, how you love, and how you remember.
A Few Questions to Reflect On
Who are you being called to remember and honour this season, and how might you celebrate them with love and joy?
What stories or traditions could you share with your children or grandchildren to keep those memories alive?
How might your own healing deepen if remembrance became an act of love instead of loss?
May this November bring warmth to your memories and a sense of peace to your heart. We honour the ones we’ve lost by continuing to live fully.
With love, Marianne
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Upcoming Events:
🗓️ December 10 | 1:00–3:00 PM Staying Connected, Staying Strong: Thriving Through the Winter Months Join me at Empowered Services in Hope for a special in-person workshop for seniors on social inclusion, community, and connection through the winter season. Everyone is welcome to attend!
💭 Your Feedback Wanted: After the success of Creating an Exceptional Life, I’m planning a deeper-dive, 3-hour paid workshop to continue that journey. Before setting a date, I’d love your input:
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Would late November or January work best for you?
This will be an in-person event, and your feedback will help shape it.
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