While playing golf, if the status of the ball you are using comes into question (whether it is out-of-bounds, lost, etc.) it is possible to drop a provisional ball and continue play with that one. A ball that that serves for the time being, a temporary, a substitute.
In life, when we get lost or go out-of-bounds, is that what we do; drop a provisional existence? Really, it’s a procession. We drop provisional lives on provisional lives on provisional lives, ad nauseam.
How were you doing . . .
the day before you dropped your first provisional life?
The Infinite 