A friend of mine remarked on Friday how just about all our practices and institutions, at least in the West, train us only for success, for productivity and efficacy.

When in reality our lives consist of a series of losses, which are often absurd and meaningless.

Our schools, universities, workplaces are filled with awards and performance reports, none of which teach us how to deal with the chaos, and liminal space, of loss.

Preparing yourself for loss can include spending time in silence, solitude, fasting (not the keto kind) and 'minimal living' (a nice western way of packaging a vow of poverty).

Loss will happen, death is certain. And when we can face it, at least somewhat prepared, it will do its work in us, and complete its work, whilst it moves through us.

pierre