Walking your path, living your life in an authentic, meaningful way, isn’t always as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes you fall into ruts — or holes.
I was reminded of this piece by Portia Nelson while sitting with a patient today – thought I’d share it here.
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost …. I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit … but,
my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter Five
I walk down another street.
(From There’s a Hole In My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery by Portia Nelson)