Change

The following is a piece of writing by someone I've never met but someone whom I nonetheless have a great deal of respect for. It was posted on my friend Lou's blog (the reading of which is what "inspired" me to post it myself), however I do not consider it stealing in any way, shape or form since I originally read it when it was pinned on the peg-board in her parents' toilet (which, by way of explanation so that they don't sound like complete lunatics, contains cartoons, jokes, photos and the like to make one's stay more enjoyable while on the shitter).

Autobiography in Five Chapters.
-- Portia Nelson.

1) I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost... I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

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'm in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

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's my fault.
I get out immediately

4) I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.

So simple and yet it takes us mere mortals (or, at the very least, this mere mortal) so long to get the hint.