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Writer's pictureColleen M. Doumeng

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.

https://youtu.be/bP8moNSVkCs

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