Losing everything

What would you do if you lost all your possessions?

If I lost all my possessions, honestly, I would probably cry at first. Our things hold memories, meaning, and comfort. However, after the initial shock, I think I would realise that most of what I own isn’t truly necessary.

Have you ever heard of the five stages of grief first described by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross? I think I would be going through these stages, grieving what I once had, and not necessarily in this order. We talk about these stages a lot in nursing.

Denial – Shock or disbelief that the loss has happened (“This can’t be real”).

Anger – Frustration, blame, or resentment (“Why me?” or “It’s not fair”).

Bargaining – Trying to regain control or make deals (“If only I had…”).

Depression – Sadness and withdrawal as reality sinks in.

Acceptance – Coming to terms with the loss and finding a way forward.

Having moved multiple times across the globe, I have learned that possessions come and go. I have had to sacrifice furniture, books, clothes, items I once thought I could not live without, but life goes on, lighter somehow. Most items can be replaced, but what cannot be replaced are the precious ones, those sentimental things, the reminders of people and moments that shaped who I am.

Losing everything would be painful, but maybe it would also be freeing. A reminder that who we are is not defined by what we own, but by what we carry within.