Potholes

Pin It

Chapter 1. 

I walk down the street. 

There is a deep hold 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 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. 

But, 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. 

Poem by Portia Nelson from her book, "There's a hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery"


My professor shared this poem with the class this past Saturday. This poem is powerful because everyone can relate to it, and it portrays a certain truth that people cannot readily articulate. We as humans will make a mistake, deny that it's our fault, continue the behavior, and then the cycle repeats. We abuse ourselves over and over again. What finally makes us wake up? What has to happen to make us aware of our own control? We've all been there. We suddenly wake up and the situation feels so familiar and you wonder, "How did I get here, again?" It takes strength to acknowledge there's an issue, and courage to evoke change.

It's one thing to be unhappy with something, but it's another thing to do nothing and expect the outcome to change. The holes will always be there…what will you do to avoid them?