Non-Attachment is sometimes interpreted as not caring about anything. But that's not it. That's more like detachment.

The basic idea behind non-attachment is that you aren't looking for something outside yourself to complete you or make you okay. You aren't attached to any particular outcome.

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This is our third blog in our 3-blog series talking about Non-Resistance, Non-Judgement and now Non-Attachment. And this is a significant thing to look at in our lives if we want to live a happy life and not be on an emotional roller coaster.

When we get attached to something, like how we look, how much money we make or if we're successful in business, we set ourselves up for being upset and disappointed when those things change.

A good way to see if you're attached to something is to notice what happens inside you when something you value is threatened or taken away. If you can't find your phone and get anxious or irritated, what does that reveal about your relationship with your phone?

This is what we're talking about. When we attach our sense of well being to something outside ourselves, if we lose it, we lose our emotional footing too.

But the point isn't to say: “I shouldn't feel upset. I'm supposed to be non-attached.”

That would simply create another layer of resistance and keep you in that tight, emotional state.

What if, should you see that you're attached to something, you just said, “Ah… look at that. I'm attached.”

And then you become aware of the attachment rather than tightening your grip on the attachment.

This is an important distinction. When we really like or enjoy something, do we try to hold on tightly so we don't lose it, or do we enjoy it while it lasts and still feel okay when it goes.

Imagine holding a beautiful flower. You can either squeeze it tightly because you're afraid of losing it. Or you can hold it gently, fully appreciating its beauty, knowing that eventually it will wilt.

We believe that this state of non-attachment is really our true nature. Just look at a young child and how quickly and easily they move from thing to thing. They don't get attached and try to hold on.

And when they do get upset because they've become attached to something, like having a certain toy or wanting some ice cream they can't have, they don't dwell in the upset for long. They don't hold on to it as though they need that thing to be okay. They're just into what's showing up in the moment and find themselves perfectly okay again. It's their nature.

And this same possibility is available to all of us, regardless of age. It's still our nature. Over time, we've just added beliefs that our happiness is found by having certain things or when life shows up the way we want it to. And we don't let go of those beliefs.

As we learn to be open to what occurs in our lives and even welcome it, the best we can, there is a lot more enjoyment and emotional stability. Give it a try and let us know how it goes for you.

The recipe this week is a Fruit Crumble with an Aquafaba Topping. Aquafaba is the liquid from cooking chickpeas. It's a great binder and it makes for a wonderful topping on crumbles. We made this one with pears and cranberries and really like it. Give it a try.

To your Amazing Health,

Connie and Bill

Fruit Crumble with Aquafaba Topping

Fruit Suggestions

Pear Cranberry

Apple Blueberry

Strawberry Rhubarb

Peach

Or any fruit or fruit combination you like.

The Pear Cranberry combo we like is given on the back.

Aquafaba Topping

• 1/3 cup almonds
• 14 dates
• 1½ cups rolled oats
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon vanilla powder
• ¼ cup aquafaba (added 1 tablespoon at a time)

Fill an 8” x 8” baking dish half full with fruit.

Make the topping by adding the almonds and dates to food processor and processing to a coarse chunk.

Add rolled oats, cinnamon and vanilla, and pulse to mix well. The longer you pulse the finer the oats, which makes the topping more dense.

Add the aquafaba and pulse to distribute well. Again, the longer you pulse, the more the aquafaba mixes into the topping, which makes it less crumbly as it bakes. There’s lots of control here with how fine you make the topping and how long you pulse in the aquafaba so you get the topping just the way you like it.

Scatter the mixture loosely over the fruit. Don’t pack it down too firmly.

Cover the fruit crumble and bake, uncovering the crumble for the last 20 minutes of baking.

NOTE: Different fruits take longer to bake. My rule of thumb is for softer fruits like berries and pears, 25-30 minutes. For firmer fruits like apples 35-40.

Pear Cranberry Crumble

Fruit Base

• 4 pears
• ½ cup cranberries fresh or frozen, or ½ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup raisins (if using fresh or frozen)
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Cut pears into the bottom of an 8” x 8” baking dish.

Add cranberries (and raisins if using fresh or frozen)

Sprinkle with spices and top with Aquafaba Topping

Topping

Use Aquafaba Topping from front page.

Bake covered at 350º for 10 minutes, remove covering and back 20 minutes more. 30 minutes total.