This week one of our dogs passed away, she was nearly 14 and was the first pet my wife I got just after we got married.

She was older than our kids.

When my wife told me the news, my first physical reaction was literally to try and get away from the pain. The second was to decide that I'm not getting another dog, ever, this hurts too much.

Then, after I faced it, buried her and cried. I remember all the joy she brought and how full she made our lives. The pain honours that life, recognises it as valuable and I remembered that pain isn't something to be buried, it is to be embraced. It is to embraced so that it can move over us, through us, and release us, tear us away so we can continue on this journey.

Get skin in the game, feel.

Pierre