What Do We Really Have to Lose?

     So many of us are afraid of losing the people in our lives. Family, friends and lovers all fall into this category. We devote our time and energy into relationships with these people. We become close with them and create a bond. Somewhere during the growth of the relationship, we begin to think of that person as "ours".
That's "MY friend", "MY boyfriend/girlfriend", or "MY sister/brother". These are just words that we say, but somehow they create a subconscious possession of the person in question. The intensity of the possession varies. Sometimes it's minimal (usually with family members and friends) and sometimes it can get out of hand (usually with romantic relationships).
     This starts to happen at an early age. As children we don't want to share our mother or our father with anyone else. They belong to us and no one else can have them. Sometimes it stops there, but then we might acquire a great friend. They're there for us through thick and thin, but all of a sudden, someone else might come along and interfere, trying to take away OUR friend. We feel threatened when we see the people that "belong" to us, talking, having fun with, or giving more attention to someone other then us.
     Why is this? What is the cure?
Recognize that NO ONE belongs to us. Each person is their own person. They have the right to their own feelings, their own decisions, and their own life. Just as we have the right to ours.
If someone chooses to make us a part of their life, then great! We should feel honored. If they choose not to make us a part of their life or give more attention elsewhere, nothing is lost, because, as stated before, they were never ours to lose.
     Of course, the loss of companionship that you felt with the person may be difficult to initially handle, that is not the point I wish to make.
The point is, you can't lose something that you never had and no one belongs to us, just as we don't belong to anyone. If we could all accept this fact, think about how much easier relationships would be.
So, take a step back and appreciate the people around you. They choose to share parts of their life with you as you choose to share part of yours with them. Recognize that they may not always be around and that all you have with them is now.