There's A Hole In My Sidewalk
Dr. Wayne Dyer introduced me to this poem several years ago. It resonated deeply within me back then and still does today - especially as a student of the art of meditation. I think this poem is a funny and brilliant teaching in change through self-awareness. Also reminds me of the first five words I read in davidji’s book, destressifying ~ “It all begins with awareness.”
THERE’S A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
~ Portia Nelson
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 street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that 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 is 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.