What the experiment also showed is that it’s not enough for us to bump up against death now and again. To be able to incorporate the clock-resetting, course-correcting, empathy-building, perspective-giving power of death into our lives, we need to be in shape for it, much the way those who are in shape can experience profound pleasure from running a marathon. For those not in shape, the experience will likely be a painful struggle. Our relationship with death is just that—a relationship. The dynamic flows both ways. Death can bring something to our lives and, in turn, how we live our lives can
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