Many of us know this "noble truth" from the Great Buddha, however, the practice of life itself proves this saying into a fact. Because we want to get attached (due to human nature), doesn't mean we need to. After being with yourself for quite some time, you tend to either lose interest or become tired of a life without bending some rules about the independencey you're so passionate about. Attachment is a sort of commitment you keep on your end, but it's rather blurry on the other. Non-attachment is a practice described in Buddhism and Hinduism, but it doesn't mean others out of said religions cannot practice non-attachment.
That being said, non-attachment is usually misunderstood in that people wonder, "lol there is no way to escape society...how can you practice "non-attachment" when you're surrounded by things and people?" On the surface, people can live a perfectly social and normal life, however, deep down inside they are allowed to appreciate the things and people in their life but keep a safe distance. Non-attachment is a sort of preparedness for the future, a foundation that ensures one to stay strong after things and people leave, physically or emotionally.
We get attached to possessions, places, and people like it's our job. You might not want to, but the brain doesn't listen in on this issue.
When I went to France, it felt surreal. Not because of how overrated it is, but because of the memories I made there. I had the experience of living with my family, living through their lifestyle, and most importantly making memories with them. After I left, I realized that I unconsciously pushed aside every negative memory I might've made on that trip and only remembered the alleyways, all-nighters, boat rides, and good experiences from that trip. I missed my niece and nephew--I missed the man who sold us baguettes on a Sunday morning with a radiant smile. No, I didn't want to get attached to these memories--but I found myself being nostalgic from time to time, wishing that I was there.
This is a form of suffering for me because when I want to escape my problems, fears, loneliness, and stress, I always look back at the happy moments in my life thus far, greedily wishing for more. You would have thought that bad memories were the only type of memories that makes man suffer but no, good memories are nothing less.
Or that time when you had a good luck charm always around with you. What happened to you after you misplaced or lost it? You were sad, upset at yourself--you maybe even cried. That's because you were attached to it. Attachment is something deeply rooted in us, as we start attaching ourselves to the outside world at a very young age.
People. Perhaps the worst kind to get attached to. The loss of someone very important can be as painful as physically breaking your heart. France will stay, possessions will stay lost, but people leaving impacts us even more.
Attachment can be visually depicted as countless thick ropes connecting two things but when they're cut with scissors, it is often left messy and incomplete. If non-attachment, or at least the thought and acknowledgement that "they might leave, I won't be okay but I'll promise myself to recover or try to recover instead of giving every bit of trust and losing that sense of giving forever." Attachment to people who pass away is something inevitable because believe it or not, even if your worst enemy passes away, you're in so much shock that your brain automatically tries to remember every memory--good or bad--enough to make you ponder about the past a lot.
Limitations on attachment is the way to go before completely practicing non-attachment, since that might be too hard of a goal to reach and there is no rush in getting there. Above non-attachment comes self-awareness, and if you know that you can handle it--don't fret and let things go the way they are.
