Lesson #1: You Might Re-think Attachment

Have you ever given any thought to the abundance of attachments in this culture? We attach to all sorts of things: cars, homes, jobs, diets, drugs...people. I doubt many of us would reject that U.S. society is--as a general rule--drawn to superficial objects to define its collectively humanistic worth. But it's the latter item of this list that concerns me the most: forming attachments to people.

I pride myself on the fact that I'm an accepting girl. If you want to elongate your neck using giant neck-bracelets, far be it for me to judge. All I'm saying is: I'm not sure if it's wise to attach to others. 

For instance, say you live with a guy named Rex. Rex and you like to knock around and have fun. Catching episodes of "Two and a Half Men," putting down beers out on the landing, taking bike rides along the lake, and your favorite--smoking kind green buds in the room in your apartment the two of you set up, somewhat Euro style--and entitled, 'the salon.' This room is great fun; it's replete with a beautiful hookah straight from the French Riviera, lots of plush, Moroccan-print pillows, and all sorts of interesting lamps. This is where you go to 'download.'

But imagine you count on Rex for your KGB supply. What's to be done when Rex enters the "flake out standard," and moves all of his shit out of your apartment unannounced? Where are you then? Do you regret attaching to him? You might.

I'm only tossing out a healthy little challenge: rely on yourself for your salon collector's items. Maybe you farm your own supply of greens. Perhaps you have a network of suppliers, so that if three enter "flake out," you know you can count down the list. Or even better: write a book. That way, you can completely rely on yourself for entertainment. Sure you will need to depend on a stationary company for paper, pens, and the like, but if you squirrel these items away when the economy is actually not 'bust,' then you should be fine when others you mistakingly put your attachment talons in are nowhere to be found.

Thus marks the end of Lesson #1. But don't worry--these concepts can be applied to all sorts of unhealthy attachments: for-the-wrong-reasons marriages, two-faced friends, back-stabbing coworkers and bosses. Just remember: I don't--at the end of the day--need theses people. I can harvest my own green plants...hell, maybe even one that grows money. Hugs and happy detaching.