When a Burglar Becomes an Unexpected Declutterer: My Story of Letting Go

Coming home to find you've been burglarized is a real shock. Your safe space, your sanctuary, has been violated. That's exactly what happened to me recently, and while it left me stunned and scared, it also brought an unexpected sense of relief.

At the time, I was living in the city, constantly moving around due to circumstances beyond my control. When I realized someone had broken in, my first thought was at least they hadn't made a mess. As a neat freak, that was a small comfort.

The burglar was meticulous, selectively taking only a few key items - my high-quality microphone, some sentimental jewelry, a valuable camera, and my bicycle. As a minimalist, I don't accumulate many expensive possessions, so the loss didn't sting as badly as it could have. In fact, I felt a growing sense of relief wash over me.

You see, some of those stolen items were reminders of a past relationship I had moved on from. I'd been struggling with what to do with them, feeling guilty about letting go. But now, the decision had been made for me. The items were gone, and I no longer had to worry.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely felt violated. The idea of someone going through my personal space is deeply unsettling. I've since taken steps to prevent it from happening again. But as someone who tries to see the positives, I couldn't help but find the silver lining.

Perhaps the burglar needed those things more than I did. And in letting go of the material attachments, I was able to focus on what truly mattered - my sense of safety and the items that held real, personal value. The camera and jewelry may have been gone, but my microphone, my music, my sanctuary - those were the things that defined me.

And in this case, the burglary allowed me to shed the weight of possessions I no longer needed, freeing me to focus on what truly mattered.

#Vulnerable