Learning the Magic of Non Attachment

Part of my 2014 vision board was to submit an article to an international conference for paper presentation and also I would like to travel to Bangkok, Thailand. April this year, I got my answer right before I went to Japan. My paper got accepted and was invited for a paper presentation and it happens to be in Bangkok, Thailand!

I was so excited that I immediately booked a round trip ticket (which happened to be on Sale) I, together with the people I am going with, already booked the hotel, and membership fees. In my attempt to maximize the cheapest of all deals, I also paid the early bird rate to make sure I will get a discount. To make the story short, I miraculously have spent over $500 in less than a couple of months, on top of my regular expenditures. I have also submitted my full paper for the conference to be included in the program and just counting the days for my flight to Bangkok. This week I even intend to create a Bangkok bucket list and other things and places to explore in Thailand.

Then Thailand declared Martial law.

I was still feeling optimistic about it. I was doing my research, monitoring the condition and asking a relative who lives in Bangkok about their current situation. They said it was not so bad, and it's different compared to Philippines' Martial Law. 

Last Friday I was on a bus when I saw on TV that Taylor Swift canceled her concert in Bangkok this year. That's not a good sign. Then when I came home last Friday night I got an email from a friend who's paper also got accepted, that the conference was postponed and still thinking to be moved (to a different country) within the year or else they will just cancel the whole thing.

I cannot hide my disappointment because I have been plotting out plans and figuring out my direction in the future. I feel that it was really meant for me because hitting 2 goals with one event? I'm really lucky! But then with happened, I cannot help but feel emotionally attached because I was looking forward to it even though I also feel nervous of my very first time presenting my paper in front of several representatives from different countries in an international conference.  

I have been reading Richard Carlson's Don't sweat the small stuff and it recommends to learn the magic of non-attachment: 

"Being attached to an outcome , holding on, takes an enormous amount of energy, not only during an effort, but often after an effort is complete, after you've failed, or been let down, or were dealt a bad hand.

Being non-attached, however, creates emotional freedom. It means holding on tightly but letting go lightly.It suggests trying hard, really caring, but at the same time completely willing to let go of the outcome."

It's been three days and I am still in the process of bouncing back and still learning to apply the magic of non-attachment. Even though I am out $500.00, (that's the thrifty me talking) I mean, what is $500 compared to our safety being compromised? I know this will be for the greater good.