03/16/2026
In grief, objects can become anchors.
A jacket that still smells like them.
A chipped mug they always used.
A saved text. A voicemail. A note in their handwriting.
These are often called linking objects. They help maintain a continuing bond with someone who has died. They offer comfort, grounding, and a sense of closeness in a world that suddenly feels fractured.
Keeping these items isn’t unhealthy.
It isn’t “not moving on.”
It’s a normal and meaningful way grief shows up.
Over time, the role of a linking object may change. Some people keep them close. Others tuck them away and return to them when needed. There’s no right timeline and no correct way to relate to them.
If an object brings comfort, it’s doing its job.
Grief doesn’t ask us to let go of love.
Sometimes it asks us to hold it differently.
