While it may seem like Waverly is only talking about chess pieces here, there is a lot more to the quote than just that. Loss plays a role in everyone’s life, whether it is the loss of other people, the loss of a job, or even just the loss of who we once were. But if we never lost anything, if our lives always stayed the same, we would not grow. We might miss out on new opportunities or on being different versions of ourselves.

For instance, sometimes friendships and relationships that were once a really positive part of a person’s life change. They can become negative or different as people get older and change. For example, say I have a best friend I love partying with in college. But after college, I am no longer interested in partying, and this friend keeps trying to pressure me to prioritize partying over my adult responsibilities. It is in my best interest to distance myself from this friend, so I can move on from my college lifestyle. This can be harder than it sounds, and choosing to change your relationships or lifestyle can be a painful loss sometimes. But in the end, just like how losing chess pieces helps players get to checkmate, loss is often the catalyst that helps us grow into a better person.