Some people keep pictures in special places where they will be protected.
I know people who keep their "special" snapshots in a safe deposit box, and others who have stated that if their house was on fire their pictures would be the first thing they would attempt to save because of their inability to replace them.
Many people take lots of snapshots or videos, particularly if they have children in order to permanently capture their youth and these become their "treasures" to pass on to their family.
Recently I began the tedious process of going through thousands of pictures (some passed down to me from my parents).
My intention was to rid myself of some of the clutter in my home by giving the pictures away, but not until I scanned, sorted and categorized them so that I would still have a copy of each and able to retrieve them easily.
It occurred to me after countless hours working on this project and only a third of the way through the photos, that I was neglecting other things that needed my attention and the task of sorting was becoming more laborious as more pictures and folders were added.
The clutter was a huge hindrance to my productivity, but the project was even more mind-boggling and creating a bigger mess, separating pictures into piles according to who to give them to.
Finally this conclusion came to me, my attachment to my photos was impeding rather than enhancing my life.
I could live without pictures.
Those pictures have nothing to do with my life other than creating a bit of entertainment.
That started me thinking of my attachment to other things.
Maybe you can resonate with some of them: control, resentment, mistakes that you beat yourself up over, habits that do not serve you or contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Some people are attached to a musical instrument, a particular piece of furniture, car or home; maybe to money or a pet.
For some it's a relationship, a child or a job.
Some maintain an emotional burden from a memory such as fear or hatred.
Others are attached to control or responsibility over a spouse or child.
There is freedom is in letting go and whatever it is you are most attached to is the very thing you need to let go of.
If you are someone who thinks you "NEED" to hold onto anything, try looking at your attachment to it.
Can you see where it's got hold of you? It's your "ball and chain".
Imagine if you were taken to an island and told you could have anything you wanted but you couldn't leave? For me the most important thing would be to escape from that island.
My greatest desire would be my freedom.
Your attachments are your mental prison.
They can affect the choices you make.
They can hold you down; keep you from moving forward, taking risks, letting go of an abusive relationship, preventing you from engaging in a relationship you desire, from doing something you are passionate about, or making it impossible for you to forgive.
Think about what you are attached to.
What would you lose if you let them go? What are you losing by hanging onto them? Are any of these attachments supporting you in your life's journey? Or are they holding you back from your passion in life, making you feel unworthy or keeping you from what you truly desire? Consider letting go, opening your heart and allowing only love to flow in.
Release and find freedom.
"If you love something, set it free...
" (author unknown) Remember, we came into this world without attachments and we will leave it the same way.