We form attachments to so many things in our lives; People, Animals, Possessions and even feelings which all have bearing on our emotions, moods and how we feel on a day to day basis.  Some attachments are stronger than others, depending on stages in our lives, how long we've had them and how they make us feel.  I find it amazing the types of attachments that we have throughout our lives and how some just lose grip whilst others are torn from us and can leave scars on our emotional growth.  The more I think the more I can't help but wonder; Are attachments born through different 'needs' in our lives and if so, as our needs change, why are they so hard to let go of?

Lately in my life my needs have changed based on a lot of changes that have occurred.  Mainly due to moving out again which is a major alteration to my life and with it comes the need to focus on different things in different ways.  I formed some attachments in my time back at home with more reliance on having my family in such close proximity and knowing that I had that safety net if need be.  I could go to my Parents or my Sister, get advice daily and lean on them more than I could in the past.  I find that it's a little scary leaving that safety net behind after 6 months even though I know that they'll always be there in the same way.  The question is though, am I having trouble letting go based on the fact that i am doing it on my own or am I scared that I'll revert to the way I was before?

I have a pet Cat that I have had since I was about 14 years old.  I have formed such an emotional attachment to her over the years as I watched her grow and the attachment was reciprocal.  I found out that my beloved cat had a stroke.  My father found her wobbling down the stairs before she fell and rolled to the bottom.  A bleed in her brain they said.  I feel that my cat is being torn from my life and I don't like the thought of not knowing she'll be there to purr in my ear and snuggle into me when I need her.  Is it strange that I have a stronger attachment to this pet than I have on people that I know?  I welled up when I was holding her in my visit to make sure she was ok. 

How many of you can say that you have become attached to something that you could be ashamed to admit?  It could be your favourite T-Shirt, Handbag, Toy, Blanket and even shoes.  How hard is it to throw those items away when you fully know you really can't use/wear them anymore?  We have this emotional attachment to them in one way or another being whether it was something that made us look good, feel better and even the accomplishment of buying it ourselves.  Don't you wonder how you can have this attachment to such an inanimate object?  Why is it so hard to let go?  Is it really going to be detrimental to our lives if we have to throw away those once amazing pair of shoes?

They say that a spring clean is something that rejuvenates the mind and cleanses the soul.  It's a metaphor about ridding our lives of the clutter so we can start afresh, be it mentally or physically.  We all go through stages in our lives where our needs change and we adapt to our surroundings to grow without all the 'excess baggage'.  How is it that we are able rid ourselves of previous attachments with such ease when there are others that stick with us?  Wouldn't you consider that 'excess baggage' or have we left just enough room to carry that across into the next stage?

We become attached to people more than anything.  You can be 'attached' to someone in a relationship or a friendship and 99% of the time that attachment is felt by the other party within that situation.  How is it that we can become attached to people when the attachment isn't returned?  I wonder how we allow ourselves to become attached to a particular person when feelings aren't reciprocated, views aren't shared and you aren't moving in the same direction.  Wouldn't it just be easier if we were able to lose that attachment in order to move on and try and form another?

Attachments are backed with feeling.  The strength of the attachment can be based on how much control we have over it.  We become attached to so many different things based on where we are in life, what we need at that present time and how they make us feel.  Be it a cat who has always show affection when you were upset, a pair of shoes that made you feel like Kate Moss (without the cocaine) and how a particular person made you feel.  I think that the feelings we have towards that particular thing is what makes it so hard to let go of.

In the end, we all have attachments and I believe that those we have no control over are the hardest to let go of.  A broken relationship, death, breakages, departure and all things as to which we don't control make it devastating when an attachment is lost.  We had no choice about losing that aspect of our lives which gave us such a good feeling.  All I can say is that no matter what the attachment makes sure that you savor every minute you have and remember what it's like to have it because you never know when one day that you no longer have it.

Mik