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October 2009 
What's the best story you've heard recently?
Posted on Sep 12th, 2009
by 
maryw
maryw
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for September 12, 2009:
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 is not 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 do not see it. I fall in again. I cannot believe I am in the same place, but it is not 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 is 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.
--Portia Nelson, "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters"
Access: Public
My therapist told me this story back in 2003 or 2004. Thanks for helping me find the source, I have been wondering. Hugs
You're very welcome, Nicole!
I heard this story for the first time just this past year.
Hugs backatcha.
:)
thnx for reminding me of this…too funny…*
:) :) :)
Hi, folks - I'd like to offer a few more possible chapters:
Chapter 6: I come back to post a sign letting other people know about the hole.
Chapter 7: I connect with other folks so that we can fill in the hole.
Chapter 8: We decided whether to rebuild the street, build a new one - or find another way besides streets to get where we might want to go, and we support each other in finding the methods and routes that work for each of us.
Thanks for posting this, Mary :-)
peace and blessings -
Sylvia
I love those additional chapters, Sylvia!
Thinking both inside and outside the box – and without the box and beyond the box – thus nurturing a wider variety of bloomings.
Amen,
Mary
Hi, Mary - as you may guess - boxes make good cat toys for me [wry chuckle].
I first encountered that story in twelve step recovery circles - and as I grew and healed, realized that there was more to it than the original version shared.
[cherishing your enthusiasm]
blessings and smiles -
Sylvia