Harry Potter and the Horcrux, and you.

As we recall, a horcrux is formed when someone kills someone else, and part of the killer's soul is split off, taking up residence in a convenient object.

It's elegant - since any killer has to deny his/her link to the rest of humanity in order to kill, and so has to lose part of whatever it is that makes us human.

Except — that we do it all the time, all of us, without killing. We attempt to console ourselves for our imperfect lives by buying things, and we put part of our immortal souls into that purchase. Ask anyone who has made a major purchase (car, home, expensive toy) that is an important part of their emotional life — something they'd weep if they lost, perhaps. That object has stolen part of your soul from you.

Loving an object too much will prevent you loving people.

So how will you deal with your horcruxes?