[ Lost ]

I read an insightful comment about “value” today:

 “Something cannot be valuable unless it can be lost”. 

The comment, by structural engineer Peter Stanford, was on a forum related to a discussion about credentials; in particular, the intrinsic value of registration (of engineers in this case). 

The insightful point is that to value it, registered engineers should lose that registration credential in certain circumstances.

It’s obvious when related to things - they have value (your bicycle, your diamond earrings, your no-claim insurance bonus).  It’s not so obvious about skills or abilities.  These are also valuable; they can also be lost.