Attachments-True connections? or False Connections

When you think of attachments what's the first thing that comes to mind?  For ages we as human beings get attached to everything, our phones, our clothes, houses, spouses, children, family and the list goes on. What is it in our nature that causes us to get attached?

Family

A mother is pregnant with her child, the child grows and develops in her womb, and she loves and nurtures her child, singing to the child, speaking to the child, rubbing her belly. She protects the child, eats the right food, takes her vitamins, gets her check-ups. When it's time for the child to come out, the cord is still attached to the mother and the child, but once the cord is cut, it's no longer the mother and child, it's just the child. As the child grows the mother guides the child and loves the child, the child grows up, moves on, has it's own family. This is natural.

So many people do the opposite, because they want to hold on to the child. They want to keep the child at a certain stage in their life. They don't want them to grow up, they want them to be with them forever. The mother, or the father has become attached to the child. And a lot of times, people will justify their actions by saying they love the child. But true love is to be able to set that person free. Let them explore , let them experience life, let them live. But when you hold on, it becomes a unhealthy bond, and it's passed on from generation to generation.

I have a brother that lives in New York, and I love him very much and he loves me, but he hardly ever calls, I don't hear from him months at a time. And it would hurt my feelings, but why? Because he wasn't calling me everyday? I realized that I was attached to him, and I would feel like he didn't love me because I wouldn't hear from him. But that's ridiculous I know he loves me, there is no doubt in my mind. My question is, where did the attachment occur? Why couldn't I accept that he did love me, he just expresses it different than I do.

We all love different, some people hardly ever talk to their family members, but they still maintain a connection. They know in their soul of souls that this person loves them.

Material

We live in a world of gadgets now, it's no surprise that everywhere you look someone is listening to their IPOD, or on their cell phone, checking their email. And the list goes on. I am no stranger to attachment to material things. I don't know what I would do without my cell phone, I can check my email, text, talk all on one device and I love it. But I have a fit if I leave my cell phone at home. It feels like I forgot to put on my top or bottom, it feels like a piece of me. The same goes with cars, motorcycles, what have you. I had a ex in college that took personal offense if I put fingerprints on his car. Why? it's just a car.But that's where attachments come in. We are attached to our things. One of the phrases you hear children say when they are playing is this: "That's Mine!" And they say it with such passion. So it starts at a very young age we get attached to our things.

Life

Life in general will throw things your way. A disaster can happen, fire, hurricane , you never know. For instance the economy is absolutely horrible right now, and it's the worst it's ever been. So do we sit and watch the news 24 hours a day to see how bad it gets day to day? or do we change our reality and not get attached to any event that is going on. Remain neutral. Flow with anything that happens weather it be "good" or "Bad" (if there is a such thing)Yes we have to be aware of what's going on but do we have to get attached to what's going on?

I am learning everyday to detach myself from situations, someone cuts in front of me i get mad, I get angry , I'm ready to yell and scream. But for what. What good will it do? I'm only hurting myself. I am learning to be like the river, the river flows, it goes down the stream and rises and falls, but it's steady. What would happen if we were totally stripped from our things, from our families and friends? What would we do? There is a rule, only the strong survive, and people would adapt, because we have an internal mechanism inside of us, to take care of ourselves. Everything we need is in us. It's nice to have companionship, it's great to have family. This is not to say we must be cold and run around unaware of our surroundings. But just be, learn to be. Because when we learn the secret of non attachment. We are free to live, to love, to enjoy life a little more than we did yesterday and the day before that and the day before that, We are free.