Back in 1969 a book called On Death and Dying presented this idea that people mourn loss in five stages or states of being (the Kübler-Ross model – thanks, Wiki!) that includes (1) denial, (2) anger, (3) bargaining / negotiation, (4) depression, and finally (5) acceptance.

Basically, the idea is that humans experience feelings of loss – loved one, job, sense of security – in much the same way, or that somehow … universally, people have a tendency to be … people.  Hmmm

Whatever anyway I have a theory that debt and the stages of it function in a similar manner.  No rational, conscious person would knowingly assume loads of debt burden – adopt a debt monkey Gorilla of Foolishness, so to speak – without the process of incurring that debt related to some … hardwire misfire in the brain. 

So, here’s my theory – I present:  The Five Stages of Debt

Euphoria
(ooo! something new!) – {Prov. 27:20}

Rationalization
(of course I/you/he/she/me/we deserve this)

Justification
(it’s only a little—, it only cost—, I can pay for this when—)

Resentment
(if so&so didn’t such&such then I—)

Self-pity
(dumbass … you knew you couldn’t/shouldn’t pay/get/afford this)

[aaand … repeat]

But, as discussed earlier, while there may be five stages of debt, there are only two steps:

Getting into it, and getting out.