At some level, we know that nothing lasts forever, but the fact that we haven’t fully accepted that truism becomes apparent when we get upset at losing something we cherish. For some, breaking a favorite possession stings. The most painful types of losses, however, are of the people we love, especially if the loss is unexpected. This helps explain why Yu Yan couldn’t cope while attending her son’s funeral after an unfortunate motorbike accident. The death of a son or daughter is the biggest tragedy a parent can endure, even a practicing Stoic parent. However, the Stoics did suggest exercises that take the bite out of losses. This week, you will practice working with one such exercise, starting with small mishaps and moving up to larger calamities.