9 Ways To Honor Prince's Life & Legacy

It’s understandable if your heart is still dented with big purple bruises after finding out Prince passed away at the age of 57 on Thursday. Suffice it to say that the universe was not ready to lose that much creative energy, and Prince touched us all... so to speak. The mourning process is far from over for most, and as you make your way through the stages of grief, you’re probably pondering all the ways you can honor Prince’s memory. There’s no shortage of options, but where does one start?

It’s OK, I’ve got you covered. After David Bowie passed earlier in the year — which left me lost, sobbing to “Heroes,” and sitting alone at Manhattan Inn with a single gin and tonic while someone played “Life On Mars” on piano — I’m better equipped to deal with the loss of cultural icons. And by taking a peek into the life and loves of his Royal Badness, I’ve brainstormed a few ways you can pay tribute to the end of his purple reign. You know, aside from crying purple tears and releasing a bunch of doves into the heavens (although those would be nice, too).

For your consideration, these are a handful of ways you can pay your respects to the late, great Prince.

1. Dig Out Some Old Prince Records And Take Them For A Spin

I'm sure that sounds so vintage, but it's also probably what he would've wanted. Just last year at the Grammy's Prince was deemed the presenter for Best Album of the Year, and he remarked, "Like books and black lives, albums still matter." Of course, if you don't have the hipster credentials that include a record player and Lovesexy on vinyl (I live in hipsterville Brooklyn where that's just a thing) then don't worry. Your parents probably got you covered on that.

2. Or Clean Sweep iTunes

Prince was notorious for keeping his music off the Internet, something that's both respectable and deeply tragic. In the event that you can't go forth and get hard copies of his albums, you can download his work off iTunes or Amazon.

3. Purple-ify Your Wardrobe... And Your Life

Why wouldn't you embrace Prince's signature hue? Even if you struggle to find some purple in your personal wardrobe (this is the moment to have such a panic) you can probably fill your bathroom with blacklights and play "When Doves Cry" while you're sobbing in the tub.

4. Commit To Wearing Heels For A Day

"People say I’m wearing heels because I’m short," Prince once said. "I wear heels because the women like ’em.” Whatever the real reason may be, Prince was a tiny fellow who lived his life in high heels, so you should follow suit (I'm already on top of that, by virtue of being tiny myself).

5. (Re)-Watch Purple Rain

It's basically like a bunch of music videos with some plot thrown in there. It is also wonderful and weird like Prince himself, so if you haven't watched the film, now is the time.

6. Attend Some Local Prince Tributes In The Area

If you live in like, Middle Of Nowhere, North Dakota I probably can't help you. But major U.S. cities are popping up with Prince dance parties, DJ sets, and so on and so forth. From New York City to San Francisco, pop in "Prince tribute party [your city name here]" into Google and see what the world is offering you.

7. Donate To One Of His Favorite Charities

Prince was a hardcore activist and was constantly playing benefit shows and donating money to charity. A brief overview of causes Prince vouched for can be found here, so feel free to be generous.

8. Hunt Down Some Dunkaroos

Dude, Prince loved Dunkaroos, and who can blame him? "Don’t know what to say about Dunk-a-roos. They’re just good," he told Heavy Table. "Sometimes you want a food that is comfortable and takes you back. For me, it’s those crazy little kangaroo crackers." They are exceptionally hard to come by, so, in case that doesn't work out, you can consult this list of his other favorite foods.

9. Go Out Into The World And Create

We've lost one of the most innovative minds of an era, so we need to honor his memory and be the best, weirdest versions of ourselves to fill the void. Prince was an inspiration to a lot of people for a lot of reasons, and the best way that we can honor him is by being our best selves. Just like him.

Images: Giphy (9)