transitions and attachments
Transitions involve detaching.
It’s easy to forget how many things we are attached to. People,stuff, places, positions, and even situations. I’ve moved quite a few times in my life, about 40, and each and every time I had to let things go.
Biggest thing was losing, whichever parent, even in the temporary, and that’s no little thing, but also far from the only thing. It wasn’t like I was going see or talk to them much for 3-9 months every time. Only had house phones in the 80’s so no zoom or FaceTime or nothing.
Annnd it wasn’t dealt with by either parent because they were going the same. Which meant I ended up helping them cope. They’d say “don’t be sad, everything will be ok.” Whatever that’s supposed to mean to an 4 year old. All I knew was that if it was up to me it wouldn’t be like this. They did the best they could and I hold no resentment towards them despite my snark. Much like one of my favorite superheroes I filter my feelings through the prism of humor quite often. I also flipping love chimichangas but I’m getting off track again.
As I write this I’m sitting in the Minneapolis international airport waiting for my flight to California. 20 years ago I wanted nothing more than to move to California and chase my dream to make people happier. The road is long and winding.
I don’t entirely remember my first plane ride. I know that I was four years old and that I flew unaccompanied from Minnesota to Maui. Back then the in-air assistance technicians, or whatever we’re calling them these days, didn’t see them put out very much. After all the I just sat in my chair and colored in my coloring books mostly. those lovely in-air passenger assistance technicians checked on me every once in a while, and are to be commended.
These days it’ll cost you almost as much as another ticket to have someone watch your kid on a plane, but these days I agree they should be paid to watch our kids. Bunch of emotionally entitled contrarians rocking the same thing every new generation does…
We got a new idea that you old folks don’t understand. We understand. We’ve all been the dumb young generation once. But we didn’t have access to the Internet to spread our dumb all over the place. That’s the difference. Granted it’s not their fault they have the Internet we did that too….I’m getting off topic again! Grrr lol ADHD.
Clearly, my passion for that tangent is an example of my attachment to my moral compass. And I know supposedly true enlightenment is about becoming fully detached, but I’m gonna go ahead and stay attached to my moral compass.
AnyWho transitions and attachments. The first time I was accompanied by a guardian on the flight was in middle school, I think. And I flew at least twice a year every year once I started flying. Keeping the math loose and hopefully less boring that’s about a decade, and each and every time I got on the airplane I felt my attachments pulling at me.
Parting ways hurt, every time. However, something else happened, and I’ve come to understand it happens every time we transition from one thing to another. Every time. The something else that happened…
I got used to coping with it. And overtime I have gotten better at coping with detaching. Overcoming loss is about letting go and whether my parents understood the deep philosophy of it or not, they were right about one thing. Everything is going to be OK.
Long Beach here I come.
Stay Mindful
