Becoming Unattached to Things

For many years I have advocated that it is not healthy to become too attached to things. This does not mean that there are some things which have a special meaning and I want to care for those things. However, I can become too attached or clinging to some things. Too attached and fearful of loosing something results in some suffereing for myself and probably others. Beginning this month, I am sharing my consulting room with a young female therapist. I value her and her contributions to our therapy team at Interfaith. I told her that even though I have used the consulting room for 22 years, I want it to become ‘our consulting room’ rather than my room which she uses several days each week. I also told her that even though most of the things in the room have a history and personal story, I did not want to be so attached that she could not change things. Honestly, that consulting room probably has the feel of an older man who has been in it for 22 years and does not recognize how others see it because he has become so used to it. Yes, our consulting room needs a face lift, and I am pleased for my young friend to share the room and make it ours. This thing about being too attached to things seems to not realize that in the end, I will take nothing with me so why not begin practicing letting go—or becoming unattached to things?