We are told not to get attached to people, ideas, places, and the list goes on. Even Buddha says, "The root of suffering is attachment." Getting attached only leaves room for pain, and getting too comfortable in our ways leaves us closed-minded. We are constantly being told what to do and how to do it. We are expected to maintain that perfect balance between holding on tight enough and clinging too loosely. Care enough, but don't care too much. Maybe I'm speaking for myself, but it seems like today many of us are even afraid to simply express how we feel. It's because were terrified. We condition ourselves and others to hold a light enough grip onto the happiness in our life because we fear it all slipping through our fingers. We are so terrified by the potential of being let down, that we don't allow ourselves to be happy. Eventually, it becomes habit to distance ourselves from people and we become the generation afraid of love and afraid of living.

"Be brave and take risks. Nothing can substitute experience." - Paulo Coelho

Luminita D. Saviuc takes a slightly different stance in her article, "Love Everything, Be Attached to Nothing," she explains that we should love fully, but getting attached to anything can bring us pain and suffering. Further down in her article she explains, "Most of us want to have many friends, to be loved, to have beautiful things, the more expensive the better, to travel to beautiful places, live in big and beautiful houses, etc., and I can tell you that I want most of these things as well, I want them all, but this isn't the problem. The problem is that most of us get so attached to all of these things, all of these people, all of these places, and once we lose them, and one day we will all go through this, we will be heartbroken, devastated, and the pain will be so hard to bear. For me, this is a very dangerous approach to life." She explains that we shouldn't be attached to these things, or rather the idea of these things. We shouldn't get attached because everything can be taken away from us in an instant. But shouldn't that be why we should cherish it? Why should the fear of losing everything keep us from enjoying what we have right now? Of course, I am talking about the non-material things in life. I'm not talking about getting attached to material objects, but rather experiences and adventures. Types of experiences that will enrich our lives and make us better. Later, Savius continues, "These people will never be content no matter how much they accumulate for they will always look to those who have more than they have they will feel that they don't have enough... living with the fear of losing it all." I agree. The tangible things in life can consume us so much that we forget about what's actually important while we are too concerned with comparing the square footage of our mansion to our neighbors.

Luminita quotes Osho, a spiritual teacher and professor of philosophy, "This is the whole secret of non- attachment: live in the world, but don't be of the world. Love people, but don't create attachments. Reflect people; reflect the beauties of the world- there are so many. But don't cling. Know, but don't create knowledge. Love, but don't create desire. Live, live beautifully, live utterly, and abandon yourself in the moment. But don't look back. This is the art of non- attachment." Do this, but don't do that. We are so caught up in not allowing ourselves to become too attached that we miss out on the good stuff. Granted, we do get attached to our ideas, and our hometowns, but we grow so attached to these things because we are familiar with them, we become comfortable. This is a good thing. But because something is familiar and comfortable doesn't mean we should stay there forever. Of course, you're attached to the house you grew up in and the people you grew up with, but it's okay to attach to new things, as well.

It isn't attachment we should fear, but not allowing ourselves to attach to anything at all. Ultimately, it'll be second nature to distance ourselves from people. Also, we'll find ourselves not being able to indulge in anything. We are repetitively being told how to live. Frankly, living without attachments isn't living at all. Drown yourself in hobbies, let your passions overwhelm you, let your dreams guide you to new places, experience new adventures, allow yourself to fall in love, and explore the world. Step outside of your comfort zone and get attached to new places, and to new people! Stay attached to the old places and the people there, and never forget what they've taught you. But if we don't allow ourselves to form new bonds, if we let our fears keep us from living, we'll always stay in the same place and never experience life. We'll never find ourselves.

So explore things in their entirety. We should commit with our whole heart. Why do anything with mediocrity? Get attached to the non-material things. When you travel, travel and explore everything that place has to offer. Get attached no matter how much you know you will dread the plane ride back. When you find someone that you like, get to know them. Instead of putting up walls because you're afraid of love, open yourself up to it. Allow yourself to fall in love without the fear of everything becoming toxic. The world has to much to teach us. In the words of Ernest Hemingway, "Try to learn to breath deeply. Really taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough."

"We have to realize that our lives could be gone in a moment. There are no guarantees that we will be here at this time next year. Learn to live each day to the fullest. Be grateful for the opportunity to experience each day." - Joel Osteen

Here is Luminita D. Saviuc's full article, "Love Everything, be Attached to Nothing," if you would like to continue reading! http://www.purposefairy.com/1178/love-everything-be-attached-to-nothing/