My youngest daughter has two small stuffed animals. The first is “Penggy” a small stuffed penguin. I got if for her the day she was born. The second is “Helping Puppy” a small stuffed dog I got for her the day she had the biopsy to confirm that she has Celiac disease. If you want to piss her off, attempt to take either one of them. Now mind you, she’s not a “little kid” anymore — she will be 16 years old in just under three months. But these two things have a special place in her heart as they are truly part of her. As such, her attachment makes perfect sense. One links her back to the time she was born while the other relates to a transformative step in her life. My guess is that she’ll always keep these two stuffed animals close at hand as both of these are ties to permanent parts of her life that define who she is.
Many of us are attached to “something” or “some things” in our lives. Perhaps it’s our house, our job, a piece of clothing, our easy chair, or our favorite seven iron. And, in many cases, that’s great! Having a reminder of a special time, place, or event in our life is priceless. The challenge comes in when the attachment links us to state that we must leave to learn, grow, and live more fully. The classic example of this is Charles Schulz’s Linus and his blanket. Linus is wise beyond his years and yet he clings for all he is worth to the security blanket. It’s as though somehow he believes it to be the source of his strength and wisdom. He’s attached to the blanket. And because of it he will remain in tethered to his doubts and fears as long as the blanket is at his side.
There’s nothing wrong with attachment. As long as the person it ties you to is the person you want to be. If not, maybe it’s time to break the tie.
With that in mind:
Is your biggest attachment holding you in place or holding you back?
As always, thanks for the time.
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