There's a Hole in My Sidewalk

This is one of my all time favorite stories of waking up. I got permission to use this in my book: You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way. When my book was finally in print, I called the publisher to find out where to mail the author a copy of my book in gratitude. The woman at the publishing house was silent for a short moment. Then she told me that Portia Nelson, the author of this amazing piece had died years ago. I cried. 

I had never met Ms Nelson. But her words touched me so deeply, and still do. I hope they touch you, too. And that if you should find yourself falling into a hole in the sidewalk, maybe this story will help you wake up quickly so you can right climb out.

An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters, by Portia Nelson

1. 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.
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 this 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. But, my eyes are open. I know where I am. It is 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.