New Year's Thought

(Actual writing of this post was 12/29/10)

I first read this in John Maxwell's book, Leadership Gold.  It is in the chapter called "The Choices You Make, Make You."

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
by Portia Nelson

I
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 me forever to find a way out.

II
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.

III
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.

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

V
I walk down another street. (Text copied from the website http://www.mhsanctuary.com/healing/auto.htm)

Portia Nelson (1921-2001) was a songwriter and cabaret singer of the '50's.  This poem is in a book she wrote called There's A Hole in my Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery.  The book is used by many 12-step groups.  Very insightful on the subject of change and choices.

To quote John Maxwell, "Successful people make the right decisions early, and manage those decisions daily."  Sometimes we are good at making choices, but bad at managing them.  We can choose to walk a different street in the coming year, if we are tired enough of falling in the holes of last year.

Oh well.  Happy New Year!
Glen