Hole in the Sidewalk
~ by Portia Nelson
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.
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 me a long time to get out.
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.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
I walk down another street.
― from the book by Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery
This clever poem captures every habit that I’ve ever tried to change. First, I have to recognize the habit, and then it is the struggle to get out of the “hole in the sidewalk” again and again before the change sticks. At least this poem lets me laugh at the whole process and find a little compassion for myself.
Here we go again. Change diet. Start exercise. Stop checking email incessantly. Stop video binging.
Ok … I’m going for a walk. Wish me luck.
References
Nelson, Portia. There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery. Simon and Schuster, 1994.