There is Hope... Even When There Is a Hole in Your Sidewalk

I was introduced to this poem when we first lived in Thailand ten years ago.  It resonated with me deeply at that time in my life, and I never forgot it.  Ten years ago it felt like the story of my life up to that point.  I recently came across it again, and it made me smile thinking about how many different streets I had walked down since that time.  I wanted to share it with you today.

It is a poem of hope and encouragement.

There Is a Hole in My Sidewalk
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
By 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 whole 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.