The concept of Metta, or Loving Kindness, is in it´s totality not fully revealed to me. But I find myself pondering it almost everyday, especially as it a big part of my Buddhism studies.
To me Loving Kindness is both what we can embody towards each other, and towards ourselves. A space of no-judgment and allowance. An intention of lessening suffering.
When we realise we all share feelings, thougths and emotions and thus through others we can know ourselves and through ourselves we can know others – we are also able to open up into a space of being kind and to use our energy in creating a world that becomes better and not worse.

It is easy to get stuck in the concept of attachement when it comes to Metta, at least I have found that to be true. I will share one example.
We live close to a grocery store. Outside of the store, in the cold autumn air sits a lonely woman. She is probably around my age and she also has two children.
On this one day I passed her by I was sad by something. I felt uneasy. And perhaps I wanted to feel better, but I handed her some money. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don´t with beggers. I just felt.. omg how cold she must be. And those poor kids.. how can I help? Money. Well. So I asked her: How old are your children? 5 and 9. I tried to tell her I´d go home and look for some clothes that my kids had outgrown. She nodded. I created an idea in my head. And then stuffed it away.
The days went on. My own kids got sick. I got sick. I hadn´t been able to go back to the store in many days. I wondered.. did she think I was not keeping my word? Would she be mad? Did I make her sad? Sadder? I felt guild and shame build up behind my back hovering over me like a cloud. Instead of making the world a better place, bit by bit, I felt even worse. My good intentions had become a liablity to myself. A yoke on my shoulder. And it increased my inner stress. How could what I had intended to be a contribution become so tough to carry? My abilities to meet my intentions were not a match.

Today I met her again. I gave her some old clothes that I had found in my sons drawers. And I added an extra blanket. She seemed happy. I felt a tiny feeling of joy spiced with shame. Feelings are so interesting! Why did I not just feel joy? Why shame?

If we look at this closer it becomes clearer. What happened here:
1. A feeling of being not good enough (me).
2. Experienceing suffering (me) and recognizing suffering (in her).
3. Deciding I wanted to contribute.
4. A meeting.
5. Deciding how that would come to be. I e giving her something.
6.Creating an image in my head about how that would look.
7. A sense of joy and ease (me).
8. Attachment to outcome (me).
9. Not being able to fulfil  – experiencing guilt and shame and stress.
10. Expressing that nagging feeling unskilfully by not being aware of what was going on and lashing out at my family bc I felt unfulfilled and stuff.
11. Gathering some stuff and giving it to the begging lady who seemed to be very confused over my gifts but ended up having at least one blanket on her easing the cold weather.
12. Me feeling somewhat awkward.

When it comes to attachment Buddhism says something like we should not be attached because it causes suffering. This example is so interesting as I created it all by myself.
I could have also have had Metta towards myself and told myself: Well that was a great intention. You did your best! That was very kind of you. Thank you.
I think that without attachment that added so much stress and feelings, when we see things as they are, in every moment, we can free up so much energy from emotions that would actually create more kindness in the world.