by Portia Nelson (1920 – 2001)
Chapter 1
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 me forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2
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 the same place
but, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
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.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5
I walk down another street.
This wonderful poem, written by American singer and actress Portia Nelson in the 70ies, is one of my favourites. We read it in our Mindfulness courses because it not only describes our human nature so aptly but also demonstrates how painful and slow the process of taking responsibility and finding new ways of being can be. What potholes do you fall in over and over?
by BostonGlobe.com