How can we live with loss — and could we truly live without it?

We have all faced significant loss in our lives — or we will. How we deal with it may surprise us. Thinking about this led me to write a play, “The Year of Magical Thinking,” now playing on Broadway with Vanessa Redgrave. To learn more go to http://broadway.yahoo.com/.

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Zaku General - Family & Relationships Singles & Dating Member since: May 03, 2006 Total points: 5,342 (Level 5) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Zaku 0

I don't think we could live without it, if there were no loss, we wouldn't value things/people as much as we do. 23 hours ago - Report Abuse 31 3

by Zaku 23 hours ago
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elliebea… Member since: April 24, 2006 Total points: 12,363 (Level 6) Points earned this week: --% Best answer elliebear 0

Only the strong survive to live another day. 11 hours ago - Report Abuse 12 28

by elliebear 11 hours ago
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Nou Member since: August 26, 2006 Total points: 1,237 (Level 3) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Nou 0

i found the title of the question interesting... but then i read the rest and the lil advertising for your play sounds out of place 11 hours ago - Report Abuse 51 14

by Nou 11 hours ago
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Kane Nig… Member since: December 29, 2006 Total points: 187 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Kane Night 0

What the ****? I think you just cheated a little bit <_< 10 hours ago - Report Abuse 12 27

by Kane Night 10 hours ago
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Paull Member since: February 14, 2007 Total points: 217 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Paull 0

loss is something we cannot do without because it makes us better people.i learnt that the had,there was a girl i really liked in my senior school but never get around to telling her so until we parted ways and i still regret think of the what if i had said something.all that time that i lost 10 hours ago - Report Abuse 8 12

by Paull 10 hours ago
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Nverfoll… Member since: December 17, 2006 Total points: 153 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Nverfollowtt 0

Yes we could live without loss however, we learn to live with it. 9 hours ago - Report Abuse 7 10

by Nverfollowtt 9 hours ago
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skippyda… Member since: February 21, 2006 Total points: 116 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer skippydamien 0

i think that we all can live with a loss because we were ok before we ever lost anything... so what makes us think were not ok? just feelings.... yea, ive lost loved ones before but then i just think life goes on and ima be ok nomatter what 9 hours ago - Report Abuse 6 10

by skippydamien 9 hours ago
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Datstuff Member since: January 05, 2007 Total points: 5,514 (Level 5) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Datstuff 0

I live on the opposite coast than my family. When someone close to me dies I understand it and then I pretend it never happened and that they are still on the other coast. I know this is unhealthy but I can't endure the pain of loss. 8 hours ago - Report Abuse 8 11

by Datstuff 8 hours ago
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Betty F Member since: November 09, 2006 Total points: 107 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Betty F 0

we just go day by day and have your heart with god because he does listen Source(s): my heart 8 hours ago - Report Abuse 13 11

by Betty F 8 hours ago
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I Heart … Member since: March 30, 2007 Total points: 282 (Level 2) Points earned this week: --% Best answer I Heart Horses 0

HOW DO WE LIVE WITH LOSS???!!! YOU BUILD A BRIDGE, AND GET OVER IT!!! 8 hours ago - Report Abuse 7 31

by I Heart Horses 8 hours ago
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aprilsta… Member since: March 17, 2006 Total points: 243 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer aprilstar64 0

As a Buddhist, loss is just another facet of life itself. It is nature. Knowing that it is a part of nature of life, makes it more understandable and fine to me. 8 hours ago - Report Abuse 12 6

by aprilstar64 8 hours ago
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kat Member since: June 14, 2006 Total points: 872 (Level 2) Points earned this week: --% Best answer kat 0

Good day to you. I experienced many losses in my life the most tragic was when my mother killed herself in front of me at the age of 16. After that my family fell apart and never have spoken to them since. I'm 47. I've tried many attempts to reunite however they are in still in pain and hang up each time. I on the other experienced much pain for many years after. I pulled out of it by having positive people around me and telling me that I am someone. I turned my life around and am very successful today. I went into therapy and dealt with the issues to the best of my ability. I will always face issues over my mothers loss, its how I've managed to deal with it in order to survive. Pain can be used to gain inner knowledge if directed from the heart. I'm in the process of putting all my diaries from my youth and what I had to suffer at the hands of others and then myself. You will repeat patterns if you do not look at how they formed and why. I said I would not discuss this over the internet and for some reason I feel that it might be important. Pain and loss are apart of life as well as happiness, success, courage, strength and love. If you would have asked me whether I would be where I am today those many years ago, many and including myself would probably of said NO WAY. Keep in mind that a lot happened before that event as well. So for me, I'm one of the lucky ones who made it out of a pit. Climbed at times, screamed at others however always knowing in my heart that there was something better than what life was at that point. It was the many different hats I wore that made me a survivor. I am unsinkable......and its that strength and compassion inside that has helped. I recently went back to the town I was raised in and visited the spot where she died, it was along time before I could. It was a little overwhelming but I knew it was the time and I could handle the emotions that came with it. Thank you for allowing me to be able to share this. In my opinion we are all spirits before being human and this helps me to be able to put things into perspective for me.....all my love to those that have experienced any loss. It is a process and not an event.....kat....pain inspires strength that normally one might not be able to know......my quote and it will be in my book....... 7 hours ago - Report Abuse 35 5

by kat 7 hours ago
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margaret… Member since: May 07, 2007 Total points: 98 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer margaret g 0

Anyone who really wants to deal with a loss needs to read the book Dianetics by L Ron Hubbard. I know that this has gotten a lot of bad press, but it really works. I know. I tried it and it helped me actually accept my father's death and go on living without the constant underlying grief. Go to the website that tells of other people's experiences with this and see for yourself. Source(s): http://www.dianeticsbook.com/blog/... 7 hours ago - Report Abuse 3 20

by margaret g 7 hours ago
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lovesick… Member since: May 11, 2006 Total points: 991 (Level 2) Points earned this week: --% Best answer lovesick dork 0

Life, is unhappiness. It's how you choose to face it what really counts. Nothing lasts forever. So there is no existance without loss. 7 hours ago - Report Abuse 5 11

by lovesick dork 7 hours ago
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me Member since: June 06, 2006 Total points: 2,225 (Level 3) Points earned this week: --% Best answer me 0

I Agree with Nou 6 hours ago - Report Abuse 3 17

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Laura G Member since: May 20, 2006 Total points: 182 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Laura G 0

im not sure 6 hours ago - Report Abuse 1 22

by Laura G 6 hours ago
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cloverey… Member since: January 29, 2006 Total points: 165 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer clovereyes2006 0

You take it one day at a time, remembering the good times,holding things you love closer to you, forgetting any wrongs ,liiving with what you have left,and holding strong to beleaving this is not all there is in life,keep contact with dear freinds,and showing love and kindness to all you love. do somthing you enjoy, take in all the sunshine you can and live life as if you only have one more day to be kind to another human being,dont try to find answers to things that cant be answered,for only god has that power, 6 hours ago - Report Abuse 12 1

by clovereyes2006 6 hours ago
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noname Member since: March 29, 2007 Total points: 1,382 (Level 3) Points earned this week: --% Best answer noname 0

The idea of loss points us back to the glory and grace of God. When we lose someone, there is nothing and no one that can totally fulfill our need for consolation besides God. He also shows us how temporary life is and reminds us to live it to our best potential while fulfilling our very specific purpose. 6 hours ago - Report Abuse 7 5

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bayoubel… Member since: January 10, 2007 Total points: 204 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer bayoubelle504 0

we could never leave without life, loss is an opendoor to new life. Once life is gone or taken away, God gives it back in more ways than one. 6 hours ago - Report Abuse 3 6

by bayoubelle504 6 hours ago
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me3za Member since: August 15, 2006 Total points: 391 (Level 2) Points earned this week: --% Best answer me3za 0

Don't forget that we also win,and living with that,will its up to you and your capability of moving on and healing. By the way-your play sounds very interesting ^_^ 6 hours ago - Report Abuse 3 3

by me3za 6 hours ago
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numba1st… Member since: April 22, 2007 Total points: 154 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer numba1stunna 0

we can live with loss with God by our side. without God to stregthen you and support you, we wouldnt be able to. alot of ppl say they cand eal with it easy, but with out God it is a lot harder and most pppl just push it out of their lives or pretend that the loss is still here. jsut becuase God helps you doesnt mean ti doesnt hurt, it will still hurt but God eases the pain of losing somehitng and helsp you move on. 5 hours ago - Report Abuse 7 5

by numba1stunna 5 hours ago
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Kevin B Member since: May 07, 2007 Total points: 103 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Kevin B 0

I think we need to be stoical about loss - its a part of life and if we didn't fact any loss, we'd be spoiled, petulent, and weak. Loss makes us stronger and allows us to grow and become more mature. 5 hours ago - Report Abuse 5 4

by Kevin B 5 hours ago
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shortstu… Member since: January 02, 2007 Total points: 9,537 (Level 5) Points earned this week: --% Best answer shortstuff 0

When I suffered the loss of my fifteen year old son, suddenly, without any goodbyes, I wondered how I would ever be able to move on in my life. I had an inner strength that was there & it helped me learn how to cope a little easier with each passing day. Before my son was killed, I always thought I had my priorIties straight but I didn't. I reshuffled my bag of priorities after losing my son, & the priorities that were on the top, were now on the bottom & vice versa. I now embrace life differently, knowing that in an instant, I could lose another son. I live each day as though it was my last, which has made me a better person in many ways. What a difference a day makes. I learned that all too well. Life is so prescious. Zaku....You are so right!!! 5 hours ago - Report Abuse 19 1

by shortstuff 5 hours ago
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M_Palidi… Member since: October 18, 2006 Total points: 630 (Level 2) Points earned this week: --% Best answer M_Palidin_2001 0

I believe that you are right, in that we all deal with loss on every level. From the child who misplaces a toy to the teen striven to perfection getting a below par grade on a test to the adult who is separated from a loved one by an argument or death. I believe that at the crux is what one believes about regaining that which was lost and how long one must wait to experience restoration of that which was lost. Good Luck on your play. 4 hours ago - Report Abuse 6 0

by M_Palidin_2001 4 hours ago
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Member since: January 23, 2007 Total points: 173 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer 0

deal with it one day at a time and don 't ever think to into the future the it could have been or what would i do when so and so happens it will make things even worst and don't think what if and should of or think of any regrets it will not make a difference thinking that it will only make things worst.pray all the time at times like these is when humans kind of remember god ,god is true you need him he does not need you .Be strong and know that we are all going to the same place sooner or later just different departure times.My prayers are with you . 4 hours ago - Report Abuse 4 1

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romansy3… Member since: October 25, 2006 Total points: 119 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer romansy3000 0

bemryb Source(s): bemryb 4 hours ago - Report Abuse 1 20

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mymisery Member since: May 07, 2007 Total points: 103 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer mymisery 0

If there was no potential for loss, we wouldn't be able to appreciate the gift we've been given. Everyone dies. Nothing lasts. Time is unrelenting. Because of this cruel fact of life, we must savor every single moment we have together. By accepting that there will be an end – and have no doubt, there will be an end -- perhaps we can more completely appreciate the conversation we had over coffee last week. Or the first time we heard “I love you.” Or the goofy laughter, the late-night tears, that stranger’s smile across a crowded room. Of course none of this will make the loss any less painful. But at least we’ll always have those moments to remember. And they were absolutely beautiful. 4 hours ago - Report Abuse 5 1

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Lost and… Member since: March 21, 2007 Total points: 499 (Level 2) Points earned this week: --% Best answer Lost and Confussed 0

I'm sure by losing the ones we love we do grow to appreciate people more. I wouldn't know how to deal with it though but I have be lucky enough not to lose anyone close to me yet. A lot of people do die around me I don't know them that well but it does make me think of the people I love. I worry sometimes since I haven't lost anyone yet and it does seem like everyone loses someone that any day now someone I love could die. 4 hours ago - Report Abuse 5 0

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sherryn Member since: March 25, 2006 Total points: 15,139 (Level 6) Points earned this week: --% Best answer sherryn 0

How can WE live with loss? Well, WE aren't all the same & that makes all the difference in the world when it comes to coping with a loss. Could we truly live without it? Since there is no known cure for death, to deny that it exists is just setting yourself up for more pain & mental anguish in the time you have on this earth. Accept death & you can go on with the art of actually LIVING! Finding joy in a pile of dog crap can make or break a persons life. We are trained to look for the bad/ugly, yet most of us have a harder time finding the good/beauty in a so-called bad situation. 4 hours ago - Report Abuse 7 1

by sherryn 4 hours ago
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steven t Member since: April 05, 2007 Total points: 38 (Level 1) Points earned this week: --% Best answer steven t 0

The privlige of life is reserved for those willing to fight and remain strong everday. You can live with loss, it all has to do with mentality,im sorry but you must put that person aside in your mind, they are in a better place now. Once they are gone...theyre gone... 3 hours ago - Report Abuse 1 4

by steven t 3 hours ago
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