If Father’s Day is a reminder of loss rather than a celebration, here are four things you could plan for June 16th.

Planning an activity to honor or acknowledge your dad helps to confront feelings related to the loss in a way that may make the emotions of the day a little more predictable for you.

1) Share Something Your Dad Taught You with Someone Else
If your dad taught you how to tie a tie, maybe teach your son to do the same on Father’s Day. If your dad showed you how to change a flat tire, pass that along to your niece. You could also tell a friend one of your dad’s favorite jokes. Dads are full of useful stuff and Father’s Day is a good time to pass some of that along to others.

2) Try an Activity That He Loved That You’ve Never Attempted
If your dad was an avid golfer but you never learned to play, try going to the driving range for the first time. Did your dad love a good single-malt Scotch, but you’ve never tried it? Give it a go! Not only does this connect you to something your dad loved, but trying new things is good for your brain health. (Okay, maybe Scotch isn’t so much, but you get what we mean.)

3) Watch Old Home Movies
This one is especially good if your dad has been gone for some time. Often you get used to seeing your dad as a 2-dimensional still life photograph. Movies are a live-action reminder of the little idiosyncrasies of movement that can get lost from our memory over time. And if your films are from the last few decades, it’s always great to hear their voice again.

4) Eat Like a Dad
If your dad’s favorite food in the world was fried chicken, go enjoy some in his honor. If he loved your mom’s meatloaf, get the recipe and make it for your family (don’t forget to invite mom too). It can be as simple as having a scoop of his favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream.

There are lots of things you could do to celebrate his memory. You could also ask your kids or siblings if they have any ideas on how to honor your dad on Father’s Day, then plan a group activity. It also doesn’t need to be a big production, it could be as simple as curling up on the couch alone and watching one of his favorite films.

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