Losing a loved one is one of life’s hardest moments. Sadly, with the loss comes weight of grief that can be overwhelming.

Often times, when we face such a loss, we find ourselves grasping for anything that feels close to the person we lost — especially their relics.
It’s only human to hold on, but the truth is that not every belonging of the deceased provides comfort.

Some things that they left behind, like that folded sweater, the book with their notes in the margins, or their favorite mug can quietly keep our grief and pain alive and make it harder to move on.

Here are four relics you may consider letting go, not in order to forget, but to make space for the healing process to begin.